A court has blocked INEC from recognising the party’s congresses, with the former Senate President barred from interfering. But David Mark is not backing down.
The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress has assured party members that the ADC will participate fully in the 2027 general elections, dismissing concerns over ongoing legal challenges. Speaking Wednesday night after receiving a briefing from the party’s legal team on a recent judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, Mark expressed confidence that the party would overcome all litigations.
“You do not have anything to be afraid of regarding all the litigations before the party,” he said. “I want to assure you that we shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election.”
The Legal Reality
Just days ago, the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained INEC from recognising or participating in any congress organised by the disputed caretaker leadership of the ADC. The court also barred Mark and other prominent figures from interfering with elected state executives. The ruling was a significant legal blow to the Mark-led faction.
Yet Mark is projecting confidence. He added that the party was fully prepared to pursue all legal options. “We are more than ready for these cases and will do everything within the ambit of the law to surmount every situation,” he stated, pledging to personally lead the party through the legal process.
The ADC’s legal team has already initiated an appeal against the judgment and filed for a stay of execution, signaling the party’s determination to challenge the ruling. The question is not whether the ADC will fight. The question is whether it can win.
The Stakes for 2027
Mark’s reassurance came as the party intensified preparations for the 2027 elections — a period seen as critical for consolidating its political footing. The ADC has been positioning itself as a viable opposition force, attracting defectors from the PDP and Labour Party, hosting a national convention that defied INEC’s warnings, and courting high-profile figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
But a party that cannot legally organise its own congresses cannot credibly contest a general election. The court’s ruling strikes at the heart of the ADC’s internal structures. If the stay of execution is not granted and the appeal fails, the Mark-led faction may find itself unable to field candidates under the ADC banner.
Mark’s confident statement — “we shall be on the ballot” — is therefore not just an assurance. It is a legal prediction. And predictions, in Nigerian politics, are only as good as the courts that enforce them.
The Battle Ahead
Earlier, the legal team briefed Mark and other party leaders on the implications of the court decision and outlined strategies for the cases ahead. The party is appealing. It has filed for a stay. It is doing everything a party in legal trouble is supposed to do.
But the clock is ticking. The 2027 election cycle is already underway. Other parties are holding primaries, finalizing tickets, and building coalitions. The ADC is fighting in court to determine whether its leadership is legitimate enough to organise congresses.
Party officials say the development is expected to boost confidence among members and supporters while reinforcing the ADC’s resolve to remain a key contender. Whether that confidence is justified will depend entirely on the courts.
The Bottom Line
David Mark has assured ADC members that the party will participate fully in the 2027 general elections despite a recent Federal High Court ruling that restrained INEC from recognising congresses organised by the party’s disputed caretaker leadership. The court also barred Mark from interfering with elected state executives.
“We shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election,” Mark said. The party’s legal team has initiated an appeal and filed for a stay of execution.
