Nafiu Gombe celebrates nullification of David Mark-led excos, releases official portrait as ADC chairman

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Nafiu Bala Gombe has released his official portrait as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), moments after the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the leadership of the Senator David Mark-led executives of the party.

Gombe announced the development with a brief message, writing, “Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah,” apparently reacting to the court’s decision in the leadership dispute.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja declared the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal and invalidated the actions it had taken on behalf of the party.

Among the actions affected by the ruling was the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. Atiku had earlier been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a presidential candidate and had reportedly selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

The suit was instituted by Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which the Mark-led committee assumed control of the party following the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe argued that he was entitled to assume the party’s leadership after Nwosu’s resignation. He asked the court to nullify the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, included the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu.

The court upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, a decision that has thrown the party’s leadership structure and its preparations for the 2027 presidential election into fresh uncertainty.

However, the ADC has indicated that it will challenge the judgment at the appellate court. The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined as an interested party in the case, said the verdict would be appealed.

The ruling came barely 24 hours after Atiku addressed a large crowd at an ADC presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State.

With the party’s leadership and presidential nomination now affected by the judgment, attention will be on the next legal steps and how the development will shape the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 election.