Breaking: Court sacks David Mark, cancels Atiku’s presidential ticket

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) headed by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, declaring that the processes through which Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and other national officers emerged were unlawful.

The court consequently nullified the actions undertaken by the Mark-led leadership on behalf of the ADC, including the processes that produced Atiku as its presidential candidate.

The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a deputy national chairman of the party, who challenged the legality of the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as national officers.

Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s case, ruling that the disputed leadership lacked the legal authority to carry out the party’s activities.

The court further held that the nominations of other ADC candidates for the 2027 general elections were invalid because they emerged through processes conducted under the leadership it had declared unlawful.

More details shortly…