The 2027 elections: Upsetting the applecart?

On yesterday, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark and disqualified the party's presidential ticket holder, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Judge Peter Lifu ruled the party's leadership committee, chaired by Mark, as unlawful and dismissed all ADC national officers and all candidates submitted to INEC for the 2027 elections.

The ADC, a major opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is barred from fielding candidates in the upcoming general elections. This move, which has been in the works for over a year, was initiated by the APC to block opposition parties from participating in the elections. The ruling was made after Nafiu Bala Gombe, the former ADC deputy national chairman, sued the ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola, and Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe argued that he was constitutionally entitled to take over the ADC leadership after the resignation of its national chairman. Judge Lifu upheld these claims and directed INEC not to recognize the decisions made at the party's 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025, and subsequent actions. The ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, condemned the court's decision, stating it was a calculated attempt to weaken the ADC and derail his candidacy.

The timing of the judgment was seen as manipulative, coming just a day after a large crowd welcomed Atiku in Sokoto for his ADC campaign launch. The ruling has raised serious legal concerns, with the ADC challenging the constitutionality of the decision, arguing it was based on jurisdiction, standing, and internal party remedies, and had already been dismissed by another Federal High Court judge.