Court Upholds David Mark-led ADC Leadership, Penalizes Leke Abejide, Lawyer N20m

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has on Thursday, July 2, 2026, dismissed a suit filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide challenging the David Mark led ADC leadership.

The presiding judge, Justice Liman Musa dismissed the suit, filed to challenge the legality of the emergence of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as ADC national chairman and national secretary, respectively, affirming their authenticity.

Abejide sought an order declaring Nwosu’s handover of ADC leadership to Mark and Aregbesola on July 2, 2025, at Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, as “illegal, unlawful, null and void”.

He also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as leaders of the party.

Defendants in the case are David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ADC, and Ralph Nwosu, former national chairman of the party.

Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections filed by ADC, Nwosu, Mark and Aregbesola to challenge Abejide’s suit.

The presiding judge ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of ADC, adding that the suit was non-justiciable.

He 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 following the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.

Liman ruled 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 ruled that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of ADC was valid and in accordance with the constitution, and the Electoral Act, 2026.

The judge awarded a fine of N2 million each in favour of all the defendants which shall be paid by Abejide.

He also awarded a N10 million fine against Abejide’s lawyer.