Federal High Court dismisses suit against David Mark-led ADC, orders N2m fines against plaintiff
The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed David Mark’s leadership of the African Democratic Congress, dismissing a suit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide as non-justiciable.
Justice Musa Liman ruled Thursday that the matter bordered on internal party affairs and that the plaintiff lacked legal standing, having failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
The court awarded N2m costs each against Abejide in favour of the defendants and ordered his counsel to pay N10m under the Electoral Act 2026.
Atiku Hails Judgment
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for constitutional democracy and a rejection of attempts to use the judiciary for political ends.
“The court could not have been clearer. It rightly held that the matter borders on the internal affairs of the ADC,” Atiku said in a statement.
He alleged that “desperate elements operating from the corridors of power” had sought to destabilise the opposition, adding that the judgment boosts the rule of law amid sustained pressure on opposition parties.
Atiku reaffirmed his 2027 presidential ambitions, stating he would continue pursuing the presidency while defending the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee, which he said emerged through a “lawful and transparent process.”
Mark: Victory for Democracy
Former Senate President David Mark described the judgment as a “major victory for democracy and the rule of law,” saying it vindicated the ADC’s position on constitutional democracy and the rights of political parties to operate without interference.
“This is not just a victory for our party; it is a victory for democracy, justice, and every Nigerian who believes in a vibrant political system,” Mark said.
ADC: End of Judicial Manipulation
The ADC hailed the ruling as a possible indication of the imminent end to judicial manipulation by elements bent on truncating Nigeria’s democracy.
National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi stated: “At a time when millions of Nigerians are confronted daily with worsening insecurity, an unbearable cost of living, rising unemployment and declining economic opportunities, our responsibility as a serious opposition party is to present practical solutions.”
The judgment is the latest in a series of legal challenges following the ADC’s restructuring, which positioned the party as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general election under Mark’s leadership.
