Federal High Court: Atiku's 2027 Candidacy Nullified by ADC Leadership Ruling

• A Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress's caretaker committee.
• This judgment invalidated former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's emergence as the ADC's presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
• Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the committee's formation violated the ADC constitution, Electoral Act, and 1999 Constitution. The ADC has appealed this judgment.
• INEC stated it will not act on the judgment until it obtains and studies a certified true copy.
• The court also invalidated all other candidate nominations and national officer appointments made by the committee for the 2027 elections.

The Federal High Court in Abuja recently nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress's caretaker committee, consequently invalidating former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's emergence as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

A recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja has invalidated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress's (ADC) caretaker committee, a decision that consequently nullifies former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's nomination as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. The judgment, delivered on Thursday, found that the process through which the David Mark-led caretaker committee assumed control of the party was contrary to the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution. The African Democratic Congress has since appealed this judgment and applied for a stay of execution.

The court's decision, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, stems from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East). Gombe initiated the legal challenge, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, asserting his constitutional right to assume party leadership following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu. He sought to invalidate all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership and to prevent Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, the interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, from presenting themselves as the party's National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated it will not take an immediate stance on the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress until it receives and thoroughly reviews a certified true copy (CTC) of the Federal High Court's judgment. Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, clarified that the commission relies exclusively on official court documents, not media reports, to inform its decisions.

Haruna confirmed that the matter is slated for discussion at the commission's meeting scheduled for the following week. He further stated that INEC is prepared to comply with any subsequent court orders, including those for a stay of execution, should the Mark-led faction choose to appeal the judgment. This commitment underscores INEC's adherence to judicial processes, even in the face of significant political developments.

Justice Lifu's comprehensive judgment not only nullified the caretaker committee's formation but also invalidated a range of critical decisions made under its tenure. This includes the presidential primary election that resulted in Atiku Abubakar's selection as the ADC's flag bearer for the 2027 elections. Furthermore, the court's ruling extends to the emergence of Rauf Aregbesola as the party's National Secretary, the appointments of other national officers, and all nominations of candidates presented by the party for the upcoming 2027 general elections.

In a direct directive to the electoral body, the court ordered INEC not to recognize or act upon any decisions that originated from the ADC's 99th National Executive Committee meeting, which took place on July 27, 2025. The lawsuit named several parties as defendants, including the African Democratic Congress itself, INEC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Ralph Nwosu, highlighting the broad implications of the legal challenge.

This Federal High Court judgment has profound implications for the African Democratic Congress and the broader political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. The nullification of the party's leadership and all candidate nominations, including a prominent presidential aspirant like Atiku Abubakar, throws the ADC's electoral preparations into disarray. It underscores the critical importance of strict adherence to party constitutions and electoral laws in the formation of leadership structures and the conduct of primary elections.

The case also highlights INEC's procedural rigor, emphasizing its requirement for certified true copies of judicial pronouncements before implementing changes or taking action. The commission's readiness to obey potential stay of execution orders further illustrates the complex interplay between judicial decisions, political party operations, and electoral administration, setting a precedent for how similar disputes might be handled in the future.

Lawyers advising political parties or candidates must ensure strict adherence to party constitutions and electoral laws during leadership selection and primary elections, as non-compliance can lead to nullification of leadership and candidate nominations. Furthermore, this case demonstrates INEC's procedural requirement for certified true copies of judgments before taking action, and its commitment to obeying court orders, including those for stay of execution.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Newspapers