In a ruling that has shocked the whole country and put democracy in obvious danger, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, sacked the Senator David Mark-led Exco of African Democratic Congress (ADC), some 71 days to the presidential election.
By the ruling, Lifu effectively voided the candidacies of no fewer than 1,503 people, including the presidential candidate of ADC, Atiku Abubakar, for the sake of one man, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Interestingly, on July 2, 2026, Hon. Justice Musa S. Liman also of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja delivered a judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 (Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide v. African Democratic Congress & 4 Ors.) regarding the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Justice Lima had dismissed the suit then, determining the court lacked jurisdiction over an internal party affair and that the plaintiff lacked standing and failed to exhaust internal remedies of the party.
Justice Lima then directed INEC to recognize the party leadership and engage with them, while awarding costs against the plaintiff.
Justice Lifu, by his judgment on Thursday is effectively overruling Justice Lima’s (worthy of note is both Justices are of equal and coordinate jurisdiction) July judgment which declared David Mark led Exco as legitimate, valid and directed INEC to recognise it.
Four months after Justice Lima’s directive to INEC to recognise Mark-led Exco, Justice Lifu has declared that same Exco as existing in contravention of the party’s constitution.
Atiku in his immediate reaction, said the latest case raised serious legal concerns: “Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute?
Before Justice Lifu’s ruling, ADC had on its list 28 governorship candidates, 108 senatorial hopefuls, 352 House of Representatives standard bearers, and 1,015 Houses of Assembly picks for the 2027 general election.
However, with the Lifu ruling, especially against its timing, the fate of 1,503 people have been affected in the most egregious manner, leaving them in a quandary, and the entire nation in speculation over what might happen next as the country inches towards the 2027 elections.
The bigger question on the lips of the public is: which of these two conflicting judgments will INEC now comply with?
Lifu, in the judgement, held that the emergence of Mark as National Chairman of ADC as well as the other members of his executive violated the constitution and the guidelines of the party.
A former National Deputy Chairman of ADC, Gombe, had approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, to challenge the emergence of the Mark-led executive of ADC.
The plaintiff in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, claimed that following the resignation of former National Chairman of ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he (Gombe) was qualified to assume the party’s leadership.
He specifically prayed the court to restrain the Mark-led executive from parading themselves as leaders of the party, on the grounds that the process that produced them violated constitutional provisions as well as ADC’s guidelines.
Those sued included ADC, Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Nwosu, as first to fifth defendants, respectively.
However, the defendants asked the court to dismiss the suit for being incompetent and lacking merit, explaining that the suit as constituted fell within the internal matters of a political party, and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the court.
Delivering judgement in the matter, on Thursday, Lifu disagreed with the defendants, holding that their emergence as executives of ADC did not follow the due process of the law.
The judge subsequently granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and declared as unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void, all actions and decisions taken by the Mark-led executive on behalf of the party.
The ruling came with grave implications, as the congresses and convention that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates vying for elective offices both at the state and federal levels were conducted by the Mark-led national executive.
Atiku condemned the court judgement that removed the Mark leadership of ADC, saying it is a panic response to Wednesday’s Sokoto rally by ADC, which attracted a massive crowd of supporters.
Describing it as a calculated attempt to weaken ADC and frustrate his candidacy, Atiku, in a statement by Director of Strategic Communication of ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said the timing of the judgement was telling.
According to the statement, “It came barely a day after a mammoth crowd turned out in Sokoto to welcome him and attend the launch of the ADC campaign.
“The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again.
“What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward.”
Atiku stated, “My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the north and being a candidate only for the north.
“Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries. Nigerians across the country are suffering under this government, and they deserve a leader with a credible plan to make life affordable again.
“The timing of this judgement is no coincidence. It is part of a strategy to weaken my support in the north and frustrate a campaign whose message is resonating across the country.
“But the ruling party’s greatest miscalculation is to assume that my support ends in the north. What we saw in Sokoto, what we will see in Kebbi and across the country, is the strength of a national movement.”
Atiku said the judgement also raised serious legal concerns, stressing, “Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had already dismissed the challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
“The court upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and the failure to exhaust internal party remedies, and resolved the substantive issues in their favour.
“Why, after that judgement, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute? This is a calculated attempt to circumvent a subsisting judgement. We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal.”
Atiku urged ADC supporters to remain calm and law-abiding and not to let the judgement weaken the momentum generated in Sokoto, saying the campaign train is already in Kebbi and would continue across the country.
He stated, “Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis.
“We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking.”