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Atiku reaffirms 2027 ambition after Court clears Mark-Led ADC
The Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday affirmed David Mark’s leadership of the opposition African Democratic Congress, a ruling the party welcomed even as former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar said he would continue his pursuit of the 2027 presidency.
Atiku described the judgment, which dismissed a suit filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, as victory for constitutional democracy and a rejection of attempts to use the judiciary for political ends.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
The judge held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it bordered on the internal affairs of a political party, which he described as non-justiciable.
Justice Liman also ruled that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the suit, having failed to demonstrate how his rights were violated by the emergence of the current ADC leadership.
He further held that the lawmaker did not exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism before approaching the court.
The judge equally resolved the issues raised in the substantive suit in favour of the defendants.
On the legality of the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s leaders, Justice Liman held that the transfer of leadership by Nwosu did not contravene the ADC constitution.
He held that the July 2, 2025, stakeholders’ meeting, where Nwosu handed over the party’s leadership, preceded the National Executive Committee meeting of July 29, 2025, which formally produced Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s national chairman and national secretary, respectively, under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The court declared that the emergence of the duo complied with the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026, and subsequently awarded costs of N2m each in favour of the defendants against Abejide.
It also ordered Abejide’s counsel to pay N10m as costs pursuant to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Abejide had, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 and filed on February 15, sued the ADC, Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola and INEC, seeking to nullify the July 2, 2025, handover of the party’s leadership.
Among other reliefs, he sought an order restraining Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, and an injunction stopping INEC from recognising them as ADC leaders.
He argued that their emergence did not comply with the party’s constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
Reacting in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the court deserved commendation for upholding legal principles on jurisdiction, locus standi, and internal party dispute mechanisms.
“The court could not have been clearer. It rightly held that the matter borders on the internal affairs of the ADC, that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction, and that the plaintiffs neither exhausted the internal remedies provided by the party’s constitution nor established the locus standi required to invoke the jurisdiction of the court.
“We commend Justice Liman for refusing to allow the judiciary to be converted into an extension of partisan political warfare,” he said.
Atiku described the judgment as a boost for the rule of law amid what he called sustained pressure on opposition parties.
“We are particularly encouraged because this judgment comes at a time when certain desperate elements operating from the corridors of power have sought, through every conceivable means, to destabilise the opposition and frustrate the growing aspirations of millions of Nigerians who desire democratic change,” he said.
He alleged attempts to weaken opposition politics through litigation and institutional manipulation, insisting that the judiciary remained the last hope of the common man.
Atiku also defended the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee, saying it emerged through a lawful and transparent process.
“The David Mark-led National Working Committee emerged through a lawful and transparent process in accordance with the constitution of our great party.
“No amount of forum shopping or judicial adventurism can alter that fact,” he said.
He urged party members to remain united and committed to strengthening democratic institutions, adding that the ADC remained a credible alternative ahead of future elections.
The suit came amid ongoing political realignments within the opposition following the adoption of the ADC as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general election.
We’re vindicated — Mark
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of ADC, Senator David Mark, has described the Federal High Court judgment affirming his leadership of the party as a major victory for democracy and the rule of law.
Mark said the decision, which upheld the legitimacy of the party’s NWC and ordered the INEC to recognise its leadership, vindicated the ADC’s longstanding position on constitutional democracy and the rights of political parties to operate without interference.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the former Senate President said the judgment marked another important milestone in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
“From the outset, we had maintained that democracy can only thrive when political parties operate without intimidation, undue interference, or attempts to undermine legitimate opposition.
“Today’s judgment has reaffirmed that no individual or institution is above the law and that the judiciary remains the ultimate guardian of our constitutional order,” Mark said.
He commended the judiciary for what he described as its courage, impartiality and commitment to justice.
“The judgment is a triumph of truth and the democratic aspirations of the Nigerian people,” he added.
He reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to constitutionalism, the rule of law and democratic governance, pledging that the party would continue to provide credible opposition at a critical period in the country’s political development.
According to him, the significance of the judgment extends beyond the fortunes of the ADC.
“This is not just a victory for our party; it is a victory for democracy, justice, and every Nigerian who believes in a vibrant political system where ideas compete freely and the will of the people ultimately prevails,” he added.
Mark urged party members, supporters and Nigerians to remain united and committed to strengthening democratic institutions through peaceful political participation.
“As the party moves forward, I call on all members, supporters and other well-meaning Nigerians to remain united, focused and committed to building a stronger, more inclusive and prosperous nation through peaceful democratic engagement,” he added.
ADC responds
In its reaction, the ADC described the ruling as a possible indication of imminent end to judicial manipulation by elements bent on truncating the nation’s democracy.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in a statement issued on Thursday, said the judgment reinforced the party’s longstanding position that issues relating to its leadership remained internal matters and were not justiciable under the Electoral Act, 2022.
“The judgment once again, affirms our clear position that the issue of leadership remains an internal affair of the party and is therefore not justiciable, especially in the light of the Electoral Act, 2026.
“It also confirms that the emergence of the current leadership of our great party, led by Senator David Mark, was carried out in accordance with the law and the Constitution of the ADC,” he said.
The opposition party said it hoped the ruling would bring an end to what it described as repeated attempts to destabilise it through litigation.
“While we view this ruling as yet another victory for multiparty democracy in Nigeria, it is our hope that this judgment will help bring to an end all the unnecessary distractions and attempts at judicial manipulation by those who are hell-bent on destabilising the opposition and foisting a one-party rule on the country,” Abdullahi added.
The party maintained that its attention remained on providing alternatives to the policies of the ruling party rather than responding to what it termed ‘contrived legal challenges.’
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are confronted daily with worsening insecurity, an unbearable cost of living, rising unemployment and declining economic opportunities, our responsibility as a serious opposition party is to present practical solutions as alternatives to the people, not to be bogged down by contrived legal challenges,” the statement read in part.
The ADC also commended Justice Liman for what it described as his courage in upholding the law, particularly noting the sanctions imposed on the plaintiff and his legal representatives.
“We commend the courage shown by the presiding judge in standing firmly on the side of justice. We commend, especially, the judge’s decision to award fines against the plaintiff and his lawyers, hoping that this measure will serve as a deterrent to those who may want to pursue such frivolous actions in the future,” Abdullahi stated.
He thanked party members and supporters for remaining steadfast throughout the legal contest, urging them to remain united as the party pursues its political objectives.
The latest judgment is one in a series of court cases instituted to challenge the leadership of the ADC following the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as the head of the party’s National Working Committee.
The leadership transition, which followed a restructuring of the party aimed at strengthening its opposition profile ahead of future elections, has attracted a number of legal challenges from aggrieved members questioning the process that produced the current national officers.
In recent months, however, the ADC has consistently maintained that the changes in its leadership complied with the provisions of its constitution and applicable electoral laws. The party has also argued that disputes arising from the selection of its officers are matters of internal party administration, which the courts have repeatedly held to be outside judicial intervention except in circumstances specifically provided by law.
The latest judgment is one of several legal challenges instituted since the ADC unveiled Senator Mark as the leader of its new NWC following the party’s reorganisation.
The restructuring, which was accompanied by the appointment of former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and the emergence of a new leadership team, came as the party positioned itself as a major platform for opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 general election.
The development, however, triggered a wave of litigation by some party members seeking to stop the new leadership from taking control of the party.
In one of the earlier suits, a Federal High Court in Abuja declined to grant an ex parte application seeking to restrain INEC from recognising the Mark-led executive.
The court instead directed the parties to put the defendants on notice before hearing the application.
Another suit sought to invalidate the outcome of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting that ushered in the current leadership, with the plaintiffs contending that the process violated the party’s constitution. The ADC insisted throughout the proceedings that the decisions were taken in accordance with its constitution and that the courts lacked jurisdiction over matters relating to its internal administration.
The party has consistently argued that disputes over the emergence of its officers are internal affairs, adding that aggrieved members must first exhaust the dispute resolution mechanisms provided under the ADC Constitution before approaching the courts.
Justice Liman’s ruling appears to have reinforced this position.
Apart from holding that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the action, the court ruled that the dispute was not a pre-election matter, that it related to the internal affairs of the party, and that the plaintiff failed to exhaust the party’s internal remedies before filing the suit.
The ruling is expected to bolster the legal standing of the Mark-led NWC, as it not only struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction but also directed INEC to recognise the party’s current national officers.
Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, has been released by the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force after almost 24 hours in detention.
Adejoorin was arrested in Ilesa on Saturday after a shooting in the Isokun area of the community left three people injured.
At least three people were reportedly injured during a shooting in Ilesa, Osun State, on Saturday, when members of the Ilesa West Local Government Area chapter of the All Progressives Congress held a street rally.
One of those injured was identified as Tobi Ilesanmi, a 14-year-old boy, who was reportedly shot near the scene of the incident around the Isokun area of Ilesa.
The incident, however, has led to a blame game between the APC and the Accord Party, following the arrest of the Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, who was said to be passing through Ilesa after the crisis.
Adejoorin was reportedly arrested by the police and brought to the headquarters of the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Osogbo, the state capital.
Speaking on the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Saturday, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that three people were injured during the shooting, alleging that the incident was perpetrated by operatives of the Amotekun Corps who were conveyed in a vehicle bearing an official Osun State Government number plate.
“Three persons are confirmed injured, and they were taken to different hospitals. From the reports we have, they were shot at the rally scene. There was a rally in some part of Ilesa by the APC.
“The rally was on when they discovered a vehicle parked beside them bearing a particular plate number, OSHAO4, and some people identified as Amotekun personnel came out of the car and shot sporadically, and everybody ran for safety.
“So some brave men among those that were doing the rally chased those Amotekun personnel passengers. The one they were able to catch drew out a knife and tried to stab anyone who came close to him, and he used that opportunity to escape,” he said.
He added that after the matter was reported to the police, some operatives of the Intelligence Response Team stationed close to the scene responded to the distress call.
Ojelabi further explained that the IRT operatives, on their way to the scene of the incident, saw Adejoorin’s vehicle passing and stopped him.
“We already have our tactical teams on the ground. We have over four IRT tactical teams on the ground posted to different locations. So the IRT that was closer to that place responded to that incident. On getting to the scene, they saw a vehicle that was approaching them, a white Lexus 350.
“On intercepting the vehicle, they saw an Amotekun personnel in the vehicle. So they apprehended the vehicle, the personnel and one other person in the vehicle. They brought them straight to the headquarters here. On interrogation, it was discovered that the other occupant is Honourable Mayowa Adejoorin.
“So they brought them to Osogbo for questioning to know the level of involvement in this incident because the exhibits recovered at the scene of that shooting are four expended cartridges, and the gun recovered from the Amotekun is a pump-action gun. So the investigation is ongoing,” Ojelabi said.
But while addressing journalists on the incident, the Head of the APC Campaign Council for Ilesa West, Folarin Fafowora, explained that the rally was about to be concluded when the incident occurred.
Fafowora said, “We were almost rounding up when, suddenly, a car overtook us. The occupant of the car was the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Wale Akerele. I was even surprised that people were embracing him, but before I could know what was happening, there was a gunshot. To my disbelief, people started running here and there. I couldn’t believe it.
“Then he left, and people immediately started scrambling for safety. As we got to the roundabout around the Isokun area, the panic and confusion among the people had really disrupted the rally.
“From nowhere, they suddenly came out of the vehicle and started shooting. In fact, I had to hide to avoid being hit. By the time I regained my consciousness, hell had already been let loose. But somehow, because of the Amotekun vehicles that were escorting him, he disappeared almost immediately. It was very shocking. The policemen were there when he came back, while they were shooting. He was being protected by the Amotekun personnel, and they were also shooting.”
Efforts to reach Akerele by our correspondent failed, as calls did not go through to his line, while a response to a message sent to him via WhatsApp was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.
However, the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, while reacting to the allegations against Akerele in a chat with journalists on Saturday, said, “The video of Ilesa shooting is all over the place. Members of the APC were shooting in the name of the rally, destroying properties that belong to the Accord members. They destroyed the Accord Party secretariat, and the videos are all over the place.”
Giving an update on the arrest on Sunday the Public Relations Officer of the Osun Police Command, Ojelabi, confirmed the release of Adejoorin.
Ojelabi could not, however, confirm if the Amotekun operative arrested with Adejoorin had been released.
When asked if Adejoorin had been released, Ojelabi simply said, “The commissioner has been released. He was released today but the Amotekun that was arrested with him, I can’t confirm his release yet because I am still gathering my facts.” (PUNCH)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, for allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.
The development was disclosed on Sunday, August 9, 2026, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Babafemi said Cyril was arrested on Sunday, August 2, during the outward clearance of passengers aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, which was scheduled to take him to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
The suspect was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510kg, according to the NDLEA spokesperson.
Babafemi said investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13, 2026, before allegedly ingesting the consignment at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, ahead of his planned return to Europe.
In his statement to investigators, Cyril reportedly said he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug for €3,500, which he intended to use to raise funds to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
The NDLEA spokesperson also announced a series of other drug interceptions and arrests recorded across the country.
In Lagos, operatives thwarted attempts by suspected drug traffickers to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers to Saudi Arabia through a courier company.
Babafemi said another 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack and destined for Italy was intercepted at a logistics company on Monday, August 3.
A separate shipment containing 2.3kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States was also intercepted at another logistics company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.
On the Akure-Ilesha Expressway, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday intercepted a truck allegedly conveying 1,633kg of skunk to northern Nigeria.
Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested in connection with the seizure, while 147kg of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu Forest during a raid on Monday, August 3.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives raided a suspected drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, on Monday, recovering 731.03kg of drugs and arresting 57-year-old Felicia Thompson. Her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, is currently at large, Babafemi said.
In Edo State, operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 604.5kg of skunk packed in 65 jumbo bags at Ewe Luleha, Owan West Local Government Area, on Wednesday, August 5.
In Abia State, a 31-year-old suspected drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, was arrested during a raid at Samec by Powerline in Osisioma Local Government Area on Thursday, August 6, with about 7kg of skunk recovered.
The agency also announced the arrest of a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, at the Fibre Market drug area in Badagry, Lagos, on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt.
According to Babafemi, 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from Sikuru at the time of his arrest.
At the TinCan Island Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg during the examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4.
A suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure, the NDLEA said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities.
Babafemi said recent activities included enlightenment lectures at Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.
The Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers and men of the various commands and formations involved in the operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement operations with prevention, sensitisation and public advocacy.
…As Nsukka LG boss, Asogwa bags Best Council Chairman Award
Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s transformational leadership and developmental strides took centre stage, yet again, as Enugu Media Village honoured him with an Award of Excellence for dedication to transformational leadership and outstanding governance.
This was even as the Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Engr. Jude Asogwa, emerged winner of the 2025/2026 Enugu State Best Performing Local Government Chairman Award, while Isi-Uzo Council Chairman, Barr. Obiora Obeagu came second in the poll.
The awards were presented during the organisation’s 2025/2026 Best Performing Local Government Chairman Poll and Leadership Recognition Ceremony, which took place at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
Presenting the awards on behalf of the organisation, the Board of Trustees Chairman of Enugu Media Village and former Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Nnanna Nze, commended Governor Mbah for what he described as his remarkable transformation of the state in just three years.
Nze noted that the governor’s developmental strides in critical sectors of the economy had continued to attract commendation from residents and stakeholders.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Founder and Director General of Enugu Media Village, Mr. Kelvin Uche Edeh, described the organisation as a media platform established to promote developmental governance and ensure that information about government projects reaches the grassroots.
He noted that Governor Mbah had demonstrated that governance was a powerful tool for transforming communities and improving lives.
“Governor Peter Mbah has shown us that governance is about changing communities and transforming systems.
“We are committed to supporting developmental governance by ensuring that information reaches the grassroots across all local government areas,” Edeh stated.
Receiving the award, Governor Mbah said the honour belonged to members of his team and the entire people of Enugu State for entrusting their mandate to him.
He, however, said that the people of Enugu State had only seen a tip of the iceberg, as he remained committed to exceeding expectations in delivering more dividends of democracy to the people.
Mbah, who was represented by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze, said the people of Enugu State deserved only the very best, hence his insistence on excellence, innovation and high performance from members of his administration.
Another major highlight of the event was the emergence of Engr. Jude Asogwa, as winner of the 2025/2026 Enugu State Best Performing Local Government Chairman Award.
The poll, which featured all 17 local government areas of the state, recorded Nsukka Local Government Area as the overall winner with 110,447 votes, ahead of Isi Uzo, Uzo Uwani, Igbo Eze North and Enugu South LGAs, in that order.
In his acceptance speech, Engr. Asogwa, who dedicated the award to God, Governor Mbah, his family and the people of Nsukka, said the recognition reflected his Council’s commitment to delivering development to all 52 communities in the LGA.
He further reaffirmed Nsukka’s support for Governor Mbah’s re-election, citing the administration’s investments in the area such as 20 Smart Green Schools, 21 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, dualization of the over 44.1-kilometre Enugu – Opi – Nsukka Road, the 52.2km Nguru – Lejja – Aku – Akpakume Nze – Egede – Affa – Eke road, and N1 billion oxygen plant, among other development projects designed to improve lives and grow Nsukka and Enugu North Zone’s economy.
“Let me just tell us that the secret of our performance is Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. He is a leader that supports the local government council chairmen. He is a governor who does not tamper with the allocations of the LGAs. That is the secret of the results you are seeing. In addition, he has delivered 267 Smart Schools and 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres in the 260 wards.
“So, Nsukka is for Governor Peter Mbah. Also, we had earlier decided as a zone that come 2027, we will support and deliver not only the governor but also President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration has contributed to the growth and development of our people, including the appointment of the first indigenous Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka,” he said.
The event also featured the presentation of Awards of Excellence to distinguished public office holders and leaders in recognition of their contributions to governance, leadership and public service.
Among the awardees were Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District; Senator Ikeje Asogwa, representing Enugu North Senatorial District; Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, representing Enugu North and South Federal Constituency; Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; and Chie Chukwudi Nnaji.
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