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.

The United States has withdrawn the majority of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism mission in the Lake Chad Basin, while maintaining intelligence sharing and other security cooperation with Nigerian authorities.

Commander of US Air Forces in Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, announced the development during a virtual press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.

He said the partnership between Washington and Abuja remained active, particularly in intelligence operations targeting the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh).

According to Anderson, the specific mission that required the deployment of US troops has been completed, prompting the withdrawal of most personnel.

However, he noted that the United States would continue providing intelligence assistance at the request of the Nigerian government.

“And so that operation in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria not only helped the countries in that immediate region; it also helps countries globally as that disrupts the ISIS network,” Anderson said.

“And so — and then we have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary to be able to prosecute these difficult tasks,” he added.

The US Air Force commander described Nigeria as a key regional partner with a capable military, saying the collaboration between both nations had produced notable gains in the fight against ISIS.

He credited intelligence cooperation between the two countries for enabling an operation that eliminated the second-highest-ranking figure in the global ISIS network.

“I think the partnership that we’ve shown recently with Nigeria, where Nigeria’s a very capable and large country — it’s got a strong economy; it’s got a large, educated population; it’s got a very capable military.

“But there are things that we have learned in the counterterrorist fight over several years that we were able to assist and integrate with them to help them with their intelligence and help with the intelligence sharing that eventually led to a cooperative effort to where we were able to bring some unique capabilities that the U.S. brings and be able to prosecute together the number two leader within the ISIS or Daesh organization who is responsible for much of their global operations, their global media, and their recruiting”, he said.

Anderson said the operation underscored the effectiveness of intelligence collaboration over prolonged foreign troop deployments.

“So I think as we go forward, that is an example of how we’re looking at engaging with partners to help them be more effective by only bringing unique U.S. capabilities that allow the partner to be effective in these fights,” he said.

He also called for deeper intelligence cooperation among African countries to tackle terrorism, drug trafficking and other cross-border crimes.

The US commander cited a recent multinational operation that intercepted a record 31-ton shipment of cocaine originating from South America and passing through the West African coastline, saying effective intelligence sharing made the seizure possible.

“I was able to coordinate through our interagency in the United States, through AFRICOM, and then notify some of the partners. And eventually it was a Spanish ship that interdicted the ship that had 31 tons of cocaine on it, and it turns out is the largest interdiction of drugs at sea that we’ve ever seen,” Anderson said.

He added that sustained collaboration among African governments, international allies and private-sector stakeholders would be vital to confronting security challenges while fostering economic growth and attracting investment across the continent.

The United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to assist with intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin as both countries expanded cooperation against ISIS and other extremist groups operating in the region.

The deployment came after US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and pledged increased American support for counterterrorism efforts.

On December 25, 2025, US forces carried out air strikes on two terrorist camps in the Bauni Forest, located in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The security partnership reached a major milestone in May 2026 when a joint US-Nigerian operation killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, during a raid on his hideout in Borno State.

Nollywood actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has accepted an appointment as spokesperson to the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, weeks after publicly withdrawing his support for the former Vice President over the choice of Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

Okonkwo announced his new role in a statement on Thursday July 1, expressing gratitude to Atiku for the confidence reposed in him and describing the appointment as evidence of the ADC presidential candidate’s willingness to embrace dialogue instead of taking offence at differing opinions.

“I give God all the glory to be appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his Spokesperson. I thank HE AA for the immense confidence reposed in me,” he wrote.

The appointment marks a dramatic turnaround from Okonkwo’s earlier stance. Following the ADC’s unveiling of Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate, the former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesperson had announced that he could not support a presidential ticket that excluded the South-East from both the presidential and vice-presidential positions.

At the time, Okonkwo described the decision as an “unpardonable injustice” against the South-East, arguing that the region had not produced either a President or Vice President since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

He had also recalled that Atiku once described himself as the “pathway to the presidency of the South-East,” insisting that his only request was for the former Vice President to choose a running mate from the region.

“I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice in 2027,” he had declared.

However, announcing his acceptance of the new role, Okonkwo revealed that discussions with Atiku and other leaders of the ADC had addressed his concerns.

According to him, the interests of the South-East had been discussed and guaranteed within the realities of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the political circumstances surrounding the coalition.

“This appointment speaks volume of the democratic credentials of HE AA. Rather than pick offence against any of his associates for expressing genuine reservations of any action taken, HE AA always opts for dialogue and compromise that will engender solution to problems.

“At a dialogue with HE AA and other well-meaning members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the interests of the South-East have been discussed and guaranteed within the existing challenges posed by the Electoral Act, 2026, and the realities on the ground,” he stated.

Okonkwo also thanked several key figures for their roles in resolving the matter, including former ADC National Chairman Ralphs Nwosu, whom he praised for his sacrifices in strengthening the party, as well as Dr. Kashim Imam and Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Dr. Ekene Onwuka.

He equally appreciated his family, supporters and friends for standing by him, praying for wisdom and strength to discharge his new responsibilities.

The appointment is expected to strengthen Atiku’s media team as the ADC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general election, while also signalling that the party may have succeeded in resolving one of the early disagreements that emerged after its presidential ticket was unveiled.