Court sacks David Mark, voids Atiku’s candidacy

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general elections.

Delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, the judgment also invalidated the leadership positions of former Senate President David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as national officers of the party, alongside all candidate nominations tied to their leadership.

The ruling stems from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, who argued that he was constitutionally entitled to take over leadership following the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu.

The court upheld Gombe’s position that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola, and the caretaker committee violated both the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

In response to the ruling, ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu announced that the party intends to appeal the judgment.