The factional National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, has hailed the ruling on the party's internal leadership dispute by the Federal High Court, describing it as independent, impartial, and courageous.
A statement released on Thursday following the judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the factional National Chairman expressed delight with the trial judge for deciding the matter strictly according to constitutional and statutory provisions rather than political considerations.
According to him, the legal challenge addressed fundamental issues regarding internal party democracy, constitutional adherence, and the regulatory oversight of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He added, "The judicial outcome reinforces the principle that political organisations must abide by their own statutory frameworks and the Electoral Act."
Bala explained that the court affirmed a foundational principle of Nigerian jurisprudence by subjecting the question of leadership emergence to constitutional and statutory scrutiny, rather than political expediency, saying that political parties are not above their own constitutions, and the Electoral Act is not a mere suggestion.
The factional National Chairman argued that judicial intervention is necessary whenever political parties ignore established rules, protecting democratic governance from internal lawlessness, saying that where a party's constitution prescribes a procedure for succession of leaders, that precedence must be obeyed.
He added that where a political party failed to comply with the rules, procedures and constitutional provisions laid down for its own governance, the court is duty-bound to intervene to safeguard democracy, uphold the rule of law and prevent anarchy.
The ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the Senator David Mark-led executive body and invalidated all acts executed by the committee, including the presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The court also set aside the appointment of former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, sacked other national officers, voided all 2027 candidate nominations, and directed INEC not to recognise decisions from the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The lawsuit was instituted by Bala, the former Deputy National Chairman, North-East, of the ADC, who challenged the takeover of party leadership by Mark and Aregbesola following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
Bala contended that as the sitting Deputy National Chairman for the North-East zone, he was constitutionally next in line to assume interim leadership, rendering the appointment of the caretaker committee illegal under the ADC constitution and Electoral Act.
The suit joined the ADC, INEC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Ralph Nwosu as first to fifth defendants, respectively, with the substantive judgment coming after the Supreme Court previously dismissed interlocutory appeals and ordered the trial court to determine the core merits of the case.
Reflecting on the wider impact of the ruling, Bala asserted that the verdict restores public faith in the judicial process by proving that courts can adjudicate sensitive political matters without succumbing to external pressure or high-profile personalities.
Bala commended his legal team for their thorough representation and expressed gratitude to his nationwide supporters for their backing throughout the court battle.