The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday affirmed David Mark leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Justice Musa Liman, in a judgment, also dismissed the suit filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, challenging Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary, respectively, of the party for lacking in merit.
Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections filed by ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark and Aregbesola which challenged Abejide’s suit.
The judge held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to dabble into the internal affairs of ADC, as the suit was non-justiciable.
He also held that Abejide lacked the legal right to have instituted the suit, having failed to show to the court that his rights had been violated in any way as a result of the emergence of Mark-led leadership.
He equally held that Abejide, who is a member of the House of Representatives, failed to explore the party’s internal mechanism for dispute resolution.
Justice Liman also resolved the three issues in the substantive suit in favour of the defendants.
On whether Mark, a former Senate President and Aregbesola, who was former Governor of Osun, emerged as leaders of the party in compliance with the enabling laws, the judge resolved the question against Abejide, the plaintiff in the suit.
The judge held that the handing over of the leadership of the party by Nwosu to Mark did not violate the provisions of the party’s constitution.
The judge agreed that the disputed July 2, 2025
