Coalition: Aggrieved ADC members approach court, seek removal of Senator Mark-led interim leadership
Three dissatisfied members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding the removal of the interim leadership headed by Senator David Mark.
The plaintiffs—Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila—are challenging the legitimacy of Mark’s recent appointment and that of other interim leaders in the party.
In their lawsuit, filed under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1328, the plaintiffs argue that the transition of leadership violates a previous court judgment.
The ADC has been named as the 1st defendant, alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and former National Chairman Raph Nwosu as the 2nd and 3rd defendants. Additionally, Senator Mark, along with Rauf Aregbesola (Interim National Secretary) and Bolaji Abdullahi (Interim National Publicity Secretary), are being cited as the 4th, 5th, and 6th defendants.
The plaintiffs have raised several legal questions for the court to resolve, including whether the appointment of the interim leaders breaches the ADC Constitution and whether these individuals were appropriately qualified members of the party.
They also argue that the existing executive committee should have only been changed through a formal convention or valid decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The plaintiffs seek a declaration from the court that the appointments made by the interim leadership are unconstitutional and void, asserting that such actions require adherence to the party’s constitutional provisions. No date has been set for the hearing of the case.
This legal action follows a recent announcement by a coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which endorsed the ADC as a platform to contest President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Following this coalition’s announcement, the ADC’s founding National Chairman, Raph Nwosu, declared a restructuring of the party to facilitate new leadership capable of spearheading efforts for the upcoming elections.
Source: Vanguard newspaper
