Three members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the legality of the party’s interim leadership, led by former Senate President David Mark.
The suit, filed on July 4, 2025, and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1328/2025, was brought by Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila. The plaintiffs argue that the interim executives, including Mark as interim national chairman, were illegally appointed.
Their action follows a major political move on June 2, when several opposition figures — including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai — rallied under the ADC platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
The previous ADC chairman, Ralph Nwosu, had announced his resignation and declared support for the new interim leadership. Along with Mark, the coalition named former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim national secretary and ex-sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi as spokesperson.
But the plaintiffs say Nwosu had no legal right to convene any party meeting or appoint new leaders, since his tenure had already expired.
They are asking the court to declare the appointments of Mark, Aregbesola, and Abdullahi as “unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void,” and to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising them as party leaders.
The case adds to growing tension within the ADC, which is positioning itself as a new political force ahead of the 2027 elections.