Court Asked to Sack David Mark-Led Interim Leadership of ADC Over Alleged Breach of Party Constitution

BY favour momodu
July 8, 2025
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Three aggrieved members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the removal of the newly constituted interim national leadership of the party, led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark.

The plaintiffs Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1328, challenged the legitimacy of the appointments of Senator Mark as Interim National Chairman, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as Interim National Secretary, and former Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi as Interim National Publicity Secretary.

Also joined in the suit are the African Democratic Congress (1st defendant), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, 2nd defendant), and the party’s immediate past National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu (3rd defendant).

The plaintiffs are urging the court to determine whether the interim leadership appointments were made in flagrant violation of the ADC Constitution (2018, as amended), especially Article 9, Paragraph D, which stipulates qualifications for national officers.

According to the court filing, the plaintiffs are also questioning the legitimacy of the handover process that led to the emergence of the interim leadership, which they claim contravenes a subsisting judgment and undermines the internal democratic mechanisms of the party.

They argue that the appointees are not registered members of the ADC in accordance with the party’s constitutional requirements and had not gone through proper party channels before assuming such crucial national positions.

The court is also being asked to invalidate any decisions or actions taken by the interim leadership, pending the outcome of the suit.

The legal challenge throws a major wrench into the plans of the ADC as it navigates a broader coalition arrangement, amidst ongoing political realignments ahead of the next electoral cycle.

No date has been set for hearing, but the case could set a significant precedent on party leadership and constitutional compliance in Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.