Abuja court upholds ADC leadership, fines challenger

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday upheld the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a lawsuit that sought to challenge his appointment. Justice Musa Liman ruled in favor of the party and its new leaders, affirming that the process that brought Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola to their positions as national chairman and national secretary complied with the law.

The suit was filed by Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State on the ADC platform. He had argued that the handover of party leadership from former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola at a meeting on July 2, 2025, was illegal and violated the party's constitution and the Electoral Act. Abejide sought court orders to nullify the handover and prevent the two men from acting as party officials.

In his judgment, Justice Liman upheld preliminary objections from the defendants, which included the ADC, Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the...