Court Validates Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Case

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday upheld Senator David Mark‘s position as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Justice Musa Liman also dismissed a suit filed by Rep Leke Abejide challenging the emergence of Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary of the party.

Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections filed by the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, Mark and Aregbesola, holding that the suit lacked merit.

The judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the party’s internal affairs. He also held that Abejide failed to show that his rights were violated by the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.

Justice Liman held that the handing over of the party’s leadership by Nwosu to Mark did not violate the ADC constitution.

He said the July 2, 2025, stakeholders’ meeting preceded the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, which produced Mark and Aregbesola.

The court declared that their emergence was valid and in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the party’s law.

The judge awarded ₦2 million each in favour of all the defendants, to be paid by Abejide.

He also awarded ₦10 million against Abejide’s lawyer in compliance with the Electoral Act.

Abejide had asked the court to nullify the handover of ADC leadership to Mark and Aregbesola and restrain INEC from recognising them.