ADC: Court dismisses suit challenging David Mark, Aregbesola, others’ leadership

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja   

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Sen. David Mark and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) respectively.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in her judgment delivered on Friday, dismissed the suit on the grounds that it bordered on the internal affairs of party to which the court has no jurisdiction to delve into.

In her judgment in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/13331/2025, filed by Dumebi Kachikwu and four others, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik upheld the preliminary objections filed by counsel for the ADC, Sen. David Mark, and Rauf Aregbesola. The court held that the issues raised regarding the leadership and membership of the party were matters that were non-justiciable, and accordingly declined jurisdiction.

Listed as defendants are the African Democratic Congress, Sen. David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Chief Ralph Nwosu as first to fifth defendants.

Justice Abdulmalik held that membership and leadership of a political party is voluntary on the grounds that parties are voluntary associations that have no compulsion.

The judge held that members aggrieved over matters of their parties should always employ an internal mechanism to resolve such grievances or at best, opt out and join other parties.