ABUJA – The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified after the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected a controversial resignation letter attributed to former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, ruling that the document was not genuine evidence of his resignation.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on November 5, 2026, also declared the David Mark-led caretaker leadership illegal and nullified decisions taken under the disputed leadership, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Details of the judgment became public on Wednesday, November 11, following the release of reports based on the Certified True Copy of the court’s decision.

The ruling has opened another chapter in the ADC’s protracted leadership crisis, with the party challenging the judgment at the Court of Appeal, while Atiku has also vowed to pursue legal action to protect his presidential ambition.

The disputed resignation letter, dated May 17, 2025, was presented by the faction led by former Senate President David Mark as evidence that Bala had voluntarily relinquished his position before the party’s leadership restructuring.

However, Bala had consistently denied writing or signing the document, insisting that he never resigned from his position as Deputy National Chairman.

In resolving the dispute, Justice Lifu compared the signature on the purported resignation letter, tendered as Exhibit ADC-1, with signatures on Bala’s sworn witness statements before the court.

The judge found material differences between the signatures and concluded that the disputed document could not reasonably be accepted as an authentic expression of Bala’s decision to resign.

He consequently rejected the letter as reliable proof that Bala had voluntarily relinquished his position in the party.

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Justice Lifu also explained that the certification of a document does not automatically establish the authenticity of a disputed signature, stressing that the court must examine the evidence before accepting such a document.

The judge’s decision undermined a central argument used by the Mark-led faction to justify the leadership transition that produced its current leadership structure.

Court Questions Emergence of David Mark, Aregbesola

Beyond the disputed resignation letter, the court examined the process through which David Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, emerged as the ADC’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

Bala had approached the court to challenge their emergence following the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held in July 2025.

He argued that he was elected Deputy National Chairman on October 12, 2022, for a four-year tenure and remained the only elected member of the party’s National Working Committee who had not resigned.

He further contended that vacancies created by the departure of other party officials could not lawfully be filled through arbitrary appointments without following the ADC constitution and relevant electoral laws.

The defendants, however, maintained that the party’s National Executive Committee had the authority to dissolve the existing National Working Committee and appoint new officers.

But Justice Lifu held that the defendants failed to establish that the emergence of the new leadership complied with the mandatory requirement for democratic elections under Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The judge stressed that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s receipt of notice and monitoring of the party meeting could not replace the requirement for a properly conducted election.

He also held that the general powers of the National Executive Committee under the party’s constitution could not override statutory requirements governing the emergence of political party executives.

Consequently, the court nullified the relevant decisions and actions arising from the disputed leadership arrangement and restrained INEC from recognising or dealing with Mark, Aregbesola and members of the disputed National Working Committee as officers of the party.

Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Ticket Caught in Court Ruling

One of the most consequential aspects of the judgment was the nullification of decisions taken by the disputed ADC leadership, including the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The decision has thrown fresh uncertainty into the former Vice-President’s presidential ambition, particularly as the ADC had positioned itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the election.

Atiku rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it, insisting that the legal battle would not force him to abandon his presidential ambition.

His campaign council also said its legal team was preparing to pursue appropriate legal remedies, including applications for a stay of execution where necessary.

Atiku questioned the basis of the ruling, arguing that an earlier judgment by another Federal High Court had addressed aspects of the dispute surrounding the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.

He maintained that the latest proceedings raised legal questions that required determination by the appellate court.

ADC Heads to Appeal Court, Seeks Stay of Execution

In a swift response, the ADC filed a notice of appeal against the judgment on November 6, 2026, seeking to overturn the decision that invalidated its leadership structure and Atiku’s presidential nomination.

The party also filed an application for a stay of execution at the Federal High Court, asking that enforcement of the judgment be suspended pending the determination of the appeal.

The development was disclosed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

In a letter dated November 6 addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the party’s lawyers formally notified the commission of the appeal and the application for a stay of execution.

The lawyers urged INEC to refrain from taking further action on the subject matter while the appellate proceedings remained pending.

They explained that the application for a stay of execution had not yet been determined by the court and urged the electoral commission to exercise restraint.

The party argued that taking consequential action before the appeal was resolved could prejudice the ongoing legal process.

However, the filing of an appeal does not automatically suspend the judgment. The application for a stay must first be considered and granted by the court.

Mark’s Faction Rejects Judgment as ADC Crisis Deepens

The judgment represents a major legal setback for the David Mark-led faction, which has maintained that its emergence followed the party’s internal constitutional processes.

The faction has rejected the ruling and indicated its intention to challenge the decision through the appellate process.

The dispute has also exposed divisions within the party over the control of its national leadership, state structures and preparations for the 2027 general election.

While the Mark-led camp is pursuing an appeal, Bala’s position has received significant support from the court’s findings on the disputed resignation letter and the process through which the new leadership emerged.

The crisis is particularly significant because the ADC had attracted prominent opposition figures seeking a common platform ahead of the next presidential election.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is now on the Court of Appeal and the pending application for a stay of execution.

The appellate court will be expected to consider the grounds of challenge raised by the party, while the Federal High Court must determine whether to suspend enforcement of its judgment pending the appeal.

The outcome could determine who controls the ADC’s national leadership, the status of decisions taken under the Mark-led administration and the future of Atiku’s presidential nomination.

For now, the ADC remains caught in a major legal and political battle, with its leadership structure and preparations for the 2027 general election facing further uncertainty.

The dispute also raises broader questions about internal democracy, compliance with electoral laws and the importance of transparent leadership succession within Nigeria’s political parties.

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has launched another verbal attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as “half-dead” and suggesting that he should be taken to an old people’s home rather than continue leading Nigeria.

The remarks add to Sowore’s recent criticism of the President’s health and physical condition, which has generated renewed political debate over Tinubu’s ability to govern and his reported ambition to seek re-election in 2027.

On November 9, Sowore publicly alleged that Tinubu was seriously ill and questioned his suitability to contest the next presidential election.

In a post on his X account, the AAC presidential candidate claimed that the President was experiencing physical and cognitive decline and accused people around him of concealing his alleged health condition from Nigerians.

“I insist that this man is very, very sick and cannot even manage his personal affairs, let alone those of a country desperately in need of dynamic leadership,” Sowore wrote.

He further alleged that individuals benefiting from what he described as the President’s physical and cognitive decline were deliberately shielding the truth from Nigerians.

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Sowore also shared a video showing Tinubu during an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Rivers State, which he cited in support of his criticism.

His comments followed other criticisms of Tinubu’s public appearances, including a viral video from an APC campaign rally in Akwa Ibom State, where the President appeared to stagger while walking towards his vehicle and was reportedly supported by people nearby.

The incident also prompted Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, to question whether Tinubu could withstand the demands of another presidential campaign.

Ibe called on the President’s family, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and his son, Seyi Tinubu, to advise him to reconsider his reported re-election ambition.

However, Sowore’s assertions about Tinubu’s health remain allegations and have not been independently established by publicly available medical evidence.

The controversy has added to the political debate surrounding Tinubu’s age, public appearances and the 2027 presidential election.