Court Affirms David Mark as ADC National Chairman, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Senator David Mark as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dismissing a lawsuit filed by Representative Leke Abejide challenging the party’s leadership.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, its former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, National Chairman David Mark, and National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ruling that Abejide’s suit lacked merit.

The court held that it had no jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party, stressing that Abejide failed to demonstrate that his legal rights had been violated by the emergence of the current leadership.

Justice Liman further ruled that the transfer of leadership from Ralph Nwosu to David Mark was carried out in accordance with the ADC Constitution.

According to the judgment, a stakeholders’ meeting held on July 2, 2025, was followed by a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on July 29, 2025, during which David Mark was validly elected National Chairman, while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola emerged as National Secretary.

The court declared that the appointments of both officials complied with the provisions of the ADC Constitution, the Electoral Act, and other applicable laws.

As part of the ruling, Justice Liman awarded ₦2 million in costs against Abejide in favour of each of the defendants. The court also ordered Abejide’s counsel to pay an additional ₦10 million in costs, citing the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

Abejide had sought an order nullifying the leadership transition that produced Mark and Aregbesola and requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be restrained from recognising them. However, the court dismissed all his claims, effectively affirming the legitimacy of the ADC’s current national leadership.