A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of Nigeria's African Democratic Congress (ADC) and voided the nomination of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, 5 November 2026, throwing one of Nigeria's main opposition parties into fresh turmoil.

The ruling

The court declared the caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark illegal, ruling that its takeover breached the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution. It also voided the emergence of former interior minister Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary, the appointments of other national officers, and the nominations of all candidates under the disputed leadership. The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise decisions taken at the ADC's 99th National Executive Committee meeting on 27 July 2025.

The case behind it

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, was filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman for the North-East, challenging Mark's takeover of the party. The ruling came barely 24 hours after Atiku, whose name had been published on INEC's candidate lists, formally opened his 2027 campaign with a rally in Sokoto State. Nigeria's presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

Appeal and a conflicting judgment

The ADC has rejected the ruling and said it will appeal to the Court of Appeal, while Atiku has also vowed to challenge it and seek a stay of execution. The judgment does not permanently bar Atiku from contesting, and its effect will depend on the appeal. Two pro-democracy groups have argued the ruling conflicts with an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman on 2 July 2026, which they say affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.