The Forum of 19 Northern State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress has rejected the Federal High Court judgment removing the David Mark led national leadership of the party, vowing to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
The forum also announced plans to petition the National Judicial Council over alleged procedural violations and disregard for an earlier judgment delivered by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
The position was contained in a joint statement signed by the northern state chairmen and made available on Tuesday, following the November 5 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The chairmen described the ruling as a departure from established judicial precedents, insisting that an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman had already addressed issues surrounding the party’s leadership structure.
According to them, the earlier judgment affirmed the 21 day notice issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission, validated resolutions reached at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting of July 29, 2025, and recognised the transfer of leadership from the party’s founder, Ralph Nwosu, to the National Working Committee led by David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.
The forum maintained that the earlier judgment remained valid and binding, arguing that another court of equal jurisdiction could not contradict its decision on the same leadership dispute.
The chairmen also questioned the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to interfere in the internal administration of political parties, citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and previous Supreme Court decisions.
They further challenged the legal standing of Bala Gombe, who instituted the suit that resulted in the removal of the Mark led leadership.
The forum alleged that Gombe had resigned as Deputy National Chairman and participated in the dissolution of the former National Executive Committee, arguing that he could not subsequently challenge the leadership arrangement that replaced it.
The northern chairmen also accused the court of dismissing 27 preliminary objections, applications for stay and motions seeking to join other interested parties without granting them a hearing.
They expressed concern that the judgment affected several party candidates, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whose presidential nomination was nullified.
According to the forum, the affected candidates were not joined in the suit, arguing that their political rights should not have been determined without giving them an opportunity to defend their interests.
The chairmen reaffirmed their support for the Mark led National Working Committee, alleging that certain political interests were working to weaken the opposition and undermine Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
They disclosed that their legal team had filed a notice of appeal alongside applications for interim injunctions and a stay of execution to protect the party’s structure and candidates pending the determination of the appeal.
The forum also confirmed its intention to submit a formal petition to the National Judicial Council, presenting what it described as evidence of procedural violations and disregard for judicial authority.
The chairmen urged ADC members and supporters across the country to remain calm and committed to the party while the legal battle continues.
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