Federal High Court Affirms David Mark, Aregbesola as ADC Leaders

Federal High Court Affirms David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as Legitimate ADC National Leaders

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has validated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ruling that the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary was conducted in full compliance with the party’s governing rules. The judgment, delivered by Justice Musa Liman on Thursday, also dismissed the lawsuit brought against the duo, finding it without merit.

What the Court Decided

Justice Liman upheld preliminary objections filed by the ADC, former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, and Rauf Aregbesola against the suit lodged by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide. The court determined that the dispute centred on the internal workings of a political party — a category of matter that falls outside the court’s jurisdiction — and therefore declared it non-justiciable.

The judge further found that Abejide had not demonstrated that any of his legal rights were infringed upon by the emergence of the current ADC leadership. Crucially, the court noted that the lawmaker bypassed the party’s own internal dispute resolution mechanisms before seeking judicial intervention, which further weakened his case.

On the substantive questions before the court, Justice Liman resolved every issue in favour of the defendants. He held that Nwosu’s handover of leadership to Mark was consistent with the ADC constitution, and that a gathering held on July 2, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja served as a stakeholders’ meeting that preceded the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of July 29, 2025. That NEC meeting, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was ruled to have validly produced Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s national officers in accordance with the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and the party’s internal regulations.

Beyond dismissing the suit, Justice Liman imposed financial penalties on the plaintiff. Abejide was ordered to pay ₦2 million each to all the defendants as costs, while his legal counsel was handed an additional ₦10 million penalty under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

Background to the Legal Battle

Abejide had filed the suit — marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 — on February 15, 2026, naming the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and INEC as defendants. He sought a court order nullifying the July 2, 2025 leadership handover, arguing the process was unlawful. He also requested that the court bar Mark and Aregbesola from holding themselves out as party leaders and prevent INEC from formally recognising them in those capacities. Thursday’s ruling brought all of those requests to nothing, leaving the ADC’s current national leadership firmly intact.

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The Federal High Court of Nigeria has issued the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2026, to ensure speedy, efficient and fair determination of disputes arising from electoral processes. Issued by Chief Judge Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, the new guidelines repeal the 2022 Practice Directions and strengthen the administration of justice in line with the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act, 2026 and other relevant laws. Click the link below to read full story: https://t.co/Y5DBBgVpkk #FederalHighCourt #ElectoralAct2026 #PreElectionMatters #NigeriaJudiciary

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