The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a suit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide for lacking merit.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.

The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, holding that the dispute concerned the internal affairs of a political party, which are generally not justiciable.

Justice Liman further held that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the suit because he failed to establish how his rights were violated by the emergence of the current ADC leadership. The judge also noted that the lawmaker did not exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.

All issues raised in the substantive suit were resolved in favour of the defendants.

On the legality of the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as party leaders, the court held that the transfer of leadership by Ralph Nwosu did not violate the ADC constitution.

Justice Liman stated that the July 2, 2025 stakeholders’ meeting, during which Nwosu handed over the party’s leadership, took place before the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of July 29, 2025. The NEC meeting subsequently produced David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the court, the emergence of both officials complied with the provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.

The judge consequently awarded costs of ₦2 million each in favour of the defendants against Abejide. He also ordered the lawmaker’s counsel to pay ₦10 million in costs pursuant to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Abejide had sued the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and INEC, seeking to nullify the July 2, 2025 handover of the party’s leadership.

The lawmaker asked the court to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, and sought an order preventing INEC from recognising them as ADC leaders.

He argued that their emergence was not in compliance with the ADC constitution and the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.