Court confirms ADC leadership led by David Mark and rejects Abejide’s suit – THISAGE

By Victor Osula, Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja has confirmed the leadership of former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the National President and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dismissing a suit challenging their appearance for lack of merit.

Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman found that the court did not have the jurisdiction to interfere in the party’s internal affairs, describing the dispute as non-justiciable.

The court upheld preliminary objections raised by the ADC, its former national president, Chief Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and Aregbesola against the suit filed by MP Leke Abejide.

Justice Liman ruled that Abejide failed to demonstrate that any of his legal rights had been violated by the emergence of the Mark-led leadership and, therefore, he lacked standing.

The judge also found that the lawmaker, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, did not exhaust internal party dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.

Beyond the preliminary objections, the court also resolved all three substantive issues of the case in favor of the defendants.

Justice Liman found that the transfer of party leadership from Chief Ralph Nwosu to David Mark did not contravene the ADC Constitution or any relevant law. He agreed with the defendants that the July 2, 2025 meeting at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, was merely a meeting of stakeholders preceding the July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.

According to the court, it was the NEC meeting, monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that validly presented Mark and Aregbesola as national leaders of the party.

The judge therefore held that the emergence of Mark as National President and Aregbesola as National Secretary was valid and in accordance with the ADC Constitution, Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws regulating political parties.

Judge Liman also imposed financial penalties on the plaintiff and his attorney.

The court awarded costs of ₦2 million each to all defendants, ordering Abejide to pay the sums. It also imposed costs of ₦10 million on the plaintiff’s lawyer, citing provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Abejide had filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 on February 15, seeking to reverse the handover of the party leadership from Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola.

The legislator had asked the court to declare the handover of the party’s leadership on July 2, 2025, illegal and null and void, arguing that the process violated the party’s constitution and electoral law. He also sought perpetual injunctions restraining Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as party leaders and restraining INEC from recognizing them in such capacities.

Abejide argued that their appearance did not comply with the requirements of section 82 of the Electoral Law and urged the court to invalidate all actions arising from the disputed leadership transition.

Thursday’s ruling effectively ends the legal challenge against the Mark-led leadership and strengthens the legitimacy of the ADC’s current national leaders, marking a significant judicial victory for the opposition party’s leadership.