The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, affirmed Senator David Mark as the legitimate leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Justice Musa Liman delivered the judgment, which also dismissed a suit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide challenging the leadership of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary, respectively. The court ruled that the suit lacked merit.
Court Upholds Preliminary Objections
Justice Liman upheld preliminary objections filed by the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, and Rauf Aregbesola, which challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear Abejide's suit. The judge held that the matter was non-justiciable, as it concerned the internal affairs of the political party. He further ruled that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the suit, having failed to demonstrate that his rights were violated by the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
Internal Dispute Resolution Not Exhausted
The court also found that Abejide, who represents Kogi State in the House of Representatives, did not explore the party's internal mechanisms for dispute resolution before resorting to litigation. According to the judgment, this failure further undermined his case. Justice Liman declared that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of the ADC was valid and in accordance with the party's constitution, the Electoral Act of 2026, and the party's laws.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported the update, confirming the court's decision. The ruling puts to rest a leadership dispute that had threatened the stability of the ADC ahead of future elections.
