The African Democratic Congress is facing fresh uncertainty over its leadership and preparations for the 2027 general elections following a Federal High Court judgment that has triggered strong objections from the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku’s campaign spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, described the ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu as unacceptable, accusing the judge of acting in a manner that could undermine the party’s participation in the elections. He made the allegations in a statement issued on Thursday.
The judgment followed a suit filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the process through which former Senate President David Mark and other officials assumed control of the party. The court nullified the Mark-led leadership and decisions taken under it, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
Okonkwo, however, maintained that the leadership transition was legitimate. He said the party unveiled the David Mark-led National Working Committee on July 2, 2025, before its National Executive Committee approved the replacement of the previous leadership on July 29, 2025, with the involvement of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He also questioned Gombe’s legal standing to challenge the arrangement, alleging that the former party official had resigned from the National Working Committee and supported the new leadership when it was unveiled. Okonkwo further argued that courts should not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties.
The ADC spokesperson also accused Justice Lifu of previously taking decisions against the party, including an earlier ruling involving the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties. He alleged that the latest judgment was part of an attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections. These claims reflect the party spokesperson’s position and have not been independently established.
Okonkwo called on the National Judicial Council to act on what he described as previous findings by the Court of Appeal concerning the judge. He also said the ADC would pursue legal remedies to challenge the latest decision, which comes shortly after the party’s campaign rally in Sokoto State. The ruling has now placed the party’s leadership structure and electoral preparations under significant legal uncertainty.
