The leadership of the African Democratic Congress headed by David Mark has secured a major legal victory after the Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed the legitimacy of the party’s National Executive Committee, ending a protracted leadership dispute that had divided the party.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Justice Mohammed Liman ruled that the national convention and internal electoral process that produced the David Mark-led executive complied with the provisions of the party’s constitution as well as the requirements of the Electoral Act. (Premium Times Nigeria)
The judgment effectively resolves months of internal factionalism and litigation that had threatened to destabilise the ADC ahead of future regional and national elections.
The legal action was initiated by a rival faction of the party, which asked the court to nullify the outcome of the party’s national convention, alleging that the congresses were marred by procedural irregularities and lacked adequate regulatory supervision. The plaintiffs also sought an order setting aside the election of the David Mark-led National Working Committee and requested the conduct of a fresh national convention under an alternative interim leadership.
However, after reviewing the evidence before the court, Justice Liman dismissed the suit for lacking merit. The court held that the defendants successfully demonstrated that due notice of the convention was given to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and that the exercise was conducted transparently and democratically in line with the laws regulating political parties in Nigeria. (Premium Times Nigeria)
The court also affirmed that Senator David Mark and members of his executive remain the legally recognised managers of the ADC’s national administrative structure, noting that INEC’s oversight of the convention satisfied the constitutional and statutory requirements.
In addition, Justice Liman dismissed all cross-petitions seeking to restrain the Mark-led executive from presenting themselves as the party’s leadership or managing the affairs of the party and its candidates.
The ruling is expected to strengthen the position of the David Mark-led leadership as the ADC continues discussions on opposition coalition arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
With the court affirming its legitimacy, the executive now retains the statutory authority to submit official candidate nomination forms to INEC, oversee the party’s finances and pursue merger and coalition negotiations, including ongoing discussions involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. (Premium Times Nigeria)
Reacting to the judgment, counsel representing the victorious ADC leadership described the decision as a victory for internal party democracy and called on aggrieved members to set aside their differences and unite behind the court-recognised executive to strengthen the party across the country.
