Keyamo Hails Court Ruling Sacking Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Invalidating Atiku’s Candidacy

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has hailed Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment invalidating the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, describing the ruling as a victory for justice and the rule of law.

Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), declared that “justice may be slow, but it is always sure” while reacting to the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu.

The court declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal and invalidated all actions taken by the committee, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Reacting to the ruling, Keyamo argued that the manner in which the party’s leadership was taken over violated established procedures and could not stand under the law.

“You cannot invade a political party owned and built by Nigerians and hijack it with the connivance of a so-called National Chairman without a prior meeting and approval of a mini National Convention or the National Executive Committee,” he said.

The minister further accused those behind the takeover of attempting to shift responsibility for their actions by blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

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He said, “You cannot bluff your way out of such a brazen act by blaming and blackmailing the ruling Party for a misfortune deliberately stocked by you.”

The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, filed by the ADC’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Gombe had approached the court seeking to nullify the actions of the Mark-led leadership, arguing that following the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the party.

The defendants in the suit included the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Nwosu.

The plaintiff also sought an order restraining Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, on the grounds that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought.

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Keyamo maintained that the judgment was based on legal facts and evidence rather than political sentiments or public pressure.

“Sorry, but the law is decided on facts and evidence, rather than sentiments and outrage by a group of people,” he said.

The ruling came barely 24 hours after Atiku attended a campaign rally in Sokoto State ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

INEC had earlier published Atiku’s name as the ADC presidential candidate, while the former vice-president had reportedly selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

However, the ADC has vowed to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal. The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, announced the decision to appeal.

Dismissing suggestions that the judgment posed a threat to democracy, Keyamo argued that the ADC remained a viable political party despite the court’s decision.

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“It is not only when a certain Atiku Abubakar contests the presidency that democracy is not in danger. The ADC as a party is well and alive and populated by people and original leaders who are no less Nigerians than David Mark and his illegal band of marauders,” he added.

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