The Federal High Court in Abuja has voided the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark, declaring all its activities and decisions unlawful.

The verdict has cast doubt over the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, especially the presidential ticket clinched by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the caretaker committee headed by Mark, which oversaw the party’s presidential primary, was not properly constituted.

As a result, the court struck out decisions taken by the committee, including the process that produced Atiku as the ADC’s presidential flagbearer for the 2027 poll.

The judgment stemmed from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party.

Gombe had challenged how Mark and his team took over the ADC following the resignation of its former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.

He contended that by virtue of his position in the party, he was entitled to assume leadership after Nwosu’s exit.

He further argued that the emergence of Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, breached the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

The plaintiff consequently prayed the court to annul decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain both men from parading themselves as the party’s national officers.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.

Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought.

The development could throw up fresh hurdles for the ADC ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

Atiku had already been listed by INEC as the party’s presidential candidate and had picked former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

The court ruling also came a day after Atiku held a campaign rally in Sokoto State as part of his build-up to the forthcoming presidential contest.

Meanwhile, the ADC has dismissed the outcome of the case and disclosed plans to appeal the judgment.

The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the proceedings as an interested party, confirmed that the ADC would head to the appellate court to seek redress.