The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has commended the Nigerian judiciary over the Federal High Court judgment affirming the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.
Atiku described the decision as a victory for constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.
The former Vice President spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, while reacting to the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered by Justice Musa Liman.
Justice Liman had dismissed the suit filed by House of Representatives member, Leke Abejide, challenging the emergence of Mark and former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as national chairman and national secretary of the ADC.
The court held that the suit lacked merit and that the dispute bordered on the internal affairs of a political party.
Justice Liman also held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal leadership arrangements of the ADC, especially where the plaintiff failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
Reacting to the ruling, Atiku said the court demonstrated courage, independence and fidelity to the Constitution in the face of what he described as sustained attempts by desperate political actors to weaponise the courts against opposition parties.
According to him, the decision was not merely a victory for the ADC but a reaffirmation of constitutional democracy and party autonomy.
“The court could not have been clearer. It rightly held that the matter borders on the internal affairs of the ADC, that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction, and that the plaintiffs neither exhausted the internal remedies provided by the party’s constitution nor established the locus standi required to invoke the jurisdiction of the court,” the statement read.
Atiku commended Justice Liman for refusing to allow the judiciary to be converted into an extension of partisan political warfare.
He said the ruling was a reminder that while political desperation may cast temporary shadows over Nigeria’s democracy, truth and justice would ultimately prevail.
According to him, the judgment was particularly encouraging in view of what he described as an orchestrated campaign by certain elements in the corridors of power to destabilise the opposition.
He alleged that such efforts included failed attempts to deregister political parties, sponsorship of proxy litigations and manipulation of public institutions.
“Today’s decision is a resounding affirmation that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and cannot be intimidated into legitimising political mischief,” Atiku said.
He insisted that the David Mark-led National Working Committee emerged through a lawful and transparent process in accordance with the constitution of the ADC.
Atiku said no amount of forum shopping or judicial adventurism could alter the validity of the process that produced the party’s current leadership.
The former Vice President urged ADC members to remain calm, united and focused on what he described as the larger task of rescuing Nigeria from economic hardship, insecurity and institutional decay.
He said the judgment should not be treated as an invitation to triumphalism but as a renewed call for democrats to strengthen national institutions and defend the rule of law.
Atiku congratulated the party leadership under Senator David Mark and reassured Nigerians that the ADC remains united, focused and determined to offer what he called a credible alternative to the present administration.
The ruling followed Abejide’s suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, in which he sought to nullify the transfer of the party’s leadership from former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, to Mark and Aregbesola.
Abejide had also asked the court to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as leaders of the party and to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising them as ADC’s interim national chairman and interim national secretary.
But Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections filed by the ADC, Nwosu, Mark and Aregbesola.
The judge held that Abejide lacked the legal right to institute the action, having failed to show how his rights were violated by the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
The court also found that the July 2, 2025 stakeholders’ meeting of the party preceded the National Executive Committee meeting of July 29, 2025, where Mark and Aregbesola emerged as leaders of the party in a process monitored by INEC.
Justice Liman consequently declared that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of the ADC was valid and in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
The court awarded costs of ₦2 million each in favour of the defendants, to be paid by Abejide.
It also imposed ₦10 million cost against Abejide’s counsel in line with the Electoral Act, 2026.
The judgment is the latest development in the prolonged leadership crisis within the ADC, which has been the subject of several court actions ahead of the 2027 general election.
With the ruling, Atiku said the opposition party would continue its preparations for the next election under the David Mark-led leadership, while remaining committed to democratic principles, lawful political engagement and institutional reform.
