The Forum of 19 Northern State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Federal High Court judgment that removed the David Mark-led national leadership of the party, vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
The forum also announced plans to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over what it described as procedural violations and disregard for an earlier judgment delivered by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
The position was contained in a statement jointly signed by the chairmen and made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, following the November 5 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The chairmen said they rejected the ruling and would pursue an appeal, describing it as inconsistent with established judicial precedents on the party’s leadership dispute.
The statement read, “We reject this judgment in its entirety and shall challenge it at the appellate court. It is a clear departure from established judicial precedents on the same subject matter.”
They argued that the ruling contradicted an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the same court in a suit involving Leke Abejide and the ADC.
According to the forum, the earlier judgment affirmed the 21-day notice issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), validated the resolutions of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting of July 29, 2025, and recognised the transfer of leadership from the party’s founder, Ralph Nwosu, to the National Working Committee led by Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.
“The judgment of Justice Musa Liman remains valid and binding. Justice Lifu’s decision amounts to a contradiction of a ruling by a court of coordinate jurisdiction on the same leadership dispute,” the statement added.
The northern chairmen also questioned the court’s jurisdiction to intervene in the internal administration of political parties, citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and previous Supreme Court decisions.
They further challenged the legal standing of the plaintiff, Bala Gombe, to institute the suit, alleging that he had resigned as Deputy National Chairman and participated in the dissolution of the former National Executive Committee.
“A person who resigned from the party’s leadership and took part in the dissolution of the former National Executive Committee lacks the locus standi to challenge the current leadership structure,” they said.
The forum also accused the court of dismissing 27 preliminary objections, applications for stay of execution and joinder motions filed by party chieftains without granting them a hearing.
It argued that the judgment extended beyond the immediate dispute by terminating the party’s national leadership, directing INEC not to recognise its executives and nullifying the nominations of its candidates, including the presidential ticket led by Atiku Abubakar.
According to the chairmen, the affected candidates were not joined in the suit and were therefore denied the opportunity to defend their political rights.
“The affected candidates were not joined in the suit. Their political rights cannot be determined without being heard. This is a fundamental breach of the right to fair hearing,” the statement said.
The forum reaffirmed its support for the Mark-led National Working Committee, alleging that the judgment was part of an attempt by unnamed political interests to weaken the opposition and undermine Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
It also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and unnamed government officials of attempting to influence the ADC’s internal affairs through the court case.
The chairmen disclosed that their legal team had filed a notice of appeal, alongside applications for interim injunctions and a stay of execution, to protect the party’s structure and candidates pending the determination of the appeal.
They said the planned petition to the NJC would include what they described as evidence of procedural violations and disregard for judicial authority.
The forum urged ADC members and supporters nationwide to remain committed to the party while the legal battle continues.