Court nullifies Atiku’s candidacy, sacks David Mark-led NWC

The Abuja Federal High Court has nullified the Senator David Mark-led executives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and also invalidated all actions they took on behalf of the party, a decision that also affects the candidacy of it's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The decision by Justice Peter Lifu was announced on Thursday November 5.

The court declared illegal the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee of the ADC, which organised the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.

The court found merit in a suit brought before it by the aggrieved former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

The decision included the nullification of the candidacy of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, has former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

Gombe had approached the court to query the process through which the Senator Mark-led Committee took over the reins of leadership of the party.

He maintained that, with the resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he (Gombe) was qualified to assume the party’s leadership.

Consequently, he, among other things, prayed the court to nullify all actions taken on behalf of the party by the Senator Mark-led leadership.

Listed as defendants in the suit were the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu.