A federal court in Abuja has rejected a legal challenge against the leadership of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), boosting plans for a united front against the ruling party ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Musa Liman dismissed a lawsuit brought by federal lawmaker Leke Abejide, who had sought to nullify the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as the ADC’s national chairman.
The judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction because the dispute was an internal party matter. He also penalised the plaintiff and his legal team with heavy financial fines for bringing a “frivolous” case to court.
The ruling has wide-reaching implications for Nigeria’s fractured opposition, as the ADC has recently emerged as a key coalition platform for politicians aiming to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Heavy fines for ‘judicial adventurism’
In a scathing judgement, Justice Liman ruled that Mr. Abejide lacked the legal standing to challenge the leadership transition. The court found that the lawmaker had failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before taking legal action.
The court subsequently ordered the following:
- ₦2m each in damages to be paid to the defendants by the plaintiff.
- ₦10m in costs to be paid personally by Mr Abejide’s lawyer under the provisions of the country’s new Electoral Act.
The dispute dates back to July 2025, when the party’s former chairman, Ralph Nwosu, handed over the reins to a new National Working Committee. The new leadership includes Senator Mark as chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary.
The judge affirmed that this transition complied fully with both the party’s constitution and national electoral laws.
Atiku signals 2027 presidential bid
The ruling was quickly welcomed by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who confirmed he is continuing his pursuit of the presidency in 2027.
Atiku, who has been heavily involved in realigning opposition forces around the ADC platform, accused “desperate elements operating from the corridors of power” of trying to destabilise the opposition through the courts.
“The court could not have been clearer. We commend the judiciary for refusing to allow itself to be converted into an extension of partisan political warfare,” Atiku said in a statement.
‘A blow to one-party rule’
Senator David Mark described the verdict as a triumph for the rule of law that would allow the opposition to operate without state intimidation.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi added that the party could now focus on the country’s pressing economic issues rather than “contrived legal challenges”.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are confronted daily with worsening insecurity and an unbearable cost of living, our responsibility is to present practical solutions, not to be bogged down by distractions,” Abdullahi said.
The ruling effectively ends a wave of litigation aimed at blocking the new leadership team, cementing the ADC’s position as the primary vehicle for the opposition’s upcoming election campaign.
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