Court Affirms Mark As ADC Leader, Throws Out Abejide’s Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has confirmed the leadership of Sen. David Mark in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and rejected a case filed by Rep. Leke Abejide.

Justice Musa Liman delivered the ruling, dismissing Abejide’s challenge against David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who are currently serving as national chairman and national secretary of the party.

The judge said the case had no merit.

The court agreed with the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, former national chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola.

It ruled that it had no power to interfere in the internal affairs of the party, describing the matter as one that cannot be decided by the court.

Justice Liman also said Abejide had no legal right to bring the case because he failed to show that any of his rights were affected by the change in leadership.

He added that the lawmaker did not first use the party’s internal dispute resolution process before going to court.

The judge further ruled that all key issues in the case favoured the defendants.

He held that the process that led to Mark and Aregbesola taking over leadership of the ADC followed the party’s constitution and legal requirements.

According to the ruling, the transfer of leadership from Nwosu to Mark did not break any rule.

The court also accepted that a meeting held on July 2, 2025, in Abuja was a stakeholder meeting that led into the party’s National Executive Council meeting on July 29, 2025, which produced the new leadership and was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Liman declared that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of the ADC was valid under the party constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and internal party rules.

The court ordered Abejide to pay a fine of N2 million to each of the defendants. It also imposed an additional N10 million fine on his lawyer.