Northern ADC Chairmen Reject Court Ruling Sacking David Mark-Led Leadership, Plan Appeal

The Forum of 19 Northern State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress has rejected the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led national leadership of the party, insisting that it will challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

The forum also announced plans to petition the National Judicial Council over alleged procedural violations and what it described as disregard for an earlier judgment by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

The position was contained in a statement jointly signed by the chairmen and made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, following the November 5 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The statement read, “We reject this judgment in its entirety and shall challenge it at the appellate court. It is a clear departure from established judicial precedents on the same subject matter.”

The northern chairmen argued that the ruling contradicted an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court in a suit involving Leke Abejide and the ADC.

According to the forum, the earlier judgment affirmed the 21-day notice issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission, validated the resolutions of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting of July 29, 2025, and recognised the transfer of leadership from the party’s founder, Ralph Nwosu, to the National Working Committee led by David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.

“The judgment of Justice Musa Liman remains valid and binding. Justice Lifu’s decision amounts to a contradiction of a ruling by a court of coordinate jurisdiction on the same leadership dispute,” the statement read.

The chairmen also questioned the court’s jurisdiction to interfere in the internal administration of political parties, citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and previous Supreme Court decisions.

They further challenged the standing of the plaintiff, Bala Gombe, to institute the suit, alleging that he had resigned as Deputy National Chairman and participated in the dissolution of the former National Executive Committee.

“A person who resigned from the party’s leadership and took part in the dissolution of the former National Executive Committee lacks the locus standi to challenge the current leadership structure,” the statement added.

The forum accused the court of dismissing 27 preliminary objections, applications for stay and joinder motions filed by party chieftains without granting them a hearing.

It also faulted the judgment for extending beyond the immediate dispute by terminating the party’s national leadership, directing INEC not to recognise its executives and nullifying the nominations of its candidates, including the presidential ticket led by Atiku Abubakar.

“The affected candidates were not joined in the suit. Their political rights cannot be determined without being heard. This is a fundamental breach of the right to fair hearing,” the chairmen argued.

The forum reaffirmed its support for the Mark-led National Working Committee and alleged that the ruling was part of an attempt by unnamed political interests to weaken the opposition and undermine Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

It also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress and unnamed government officials of seeking to influence the party’s internal affairs through the court case.

The chairmen said their legal team had filed a notice of appeal, alongside applications for interim injunctions and a stay of execution, to protect the party’s structure and candidates pending the determination of the appeal.

They added that they would petition the National Judicial Council, submitting what they described as evidence of procedural violations and disregard for judicial authority.

The forum urged ADC members and supporters across the country to remain committed to the party’s activities while the legal challenge continued.