National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, yesterday described the Federal High Court judgment affirming his leadership of the party as a landmark victory for democracy and the rule of law, saying it reinforces the principles of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.
Reacting to the judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman in Abuja, which dismissed a suit challenging the legitimacy of the ADC leadership, Mark said the verdict vindicated the party’s consistent position that democracy can only flourish when political parties are allowed to function without intimidation or undue interference.
He said the court’s decision affirmed the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate and participate in the country’s democratic process.
“From the outset, we had maintained that democracy can only thrive when political parties operate without intimidation, undue interference or attempts to undermine legitimate opposition. Today’s judgment has reaffirmed that no individual or institution is above the law and that the judiciary remains the ultimate guardian of our constitutional order,” Mark said.
The former Senate President commended the judiciary for what he described as its courage, impartiality and steadfast commitment to justice, noting that the judgment represented a triumph of truth and the democratic aspirations of Nigerians.
He reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to democratic ideals, constitutionalism and the rule of law, stressing that the party would continue to provide purposeful leadership as a strong and credible opposition platform at a critical period in the nation’s political evolution.
According to him, the significance of the judgment extends beyond the fortunes of the ADC.
“This is not just a victory for our party; it is a victory for democracy, justice and every Nigerian who believes in a vibrant political system where ideas compete freely and the will of the people ultimately prevails,” he said.
Mark also called on party members, supporters and other Nigerians to remain united and committed to building a stronger, more inclusive and prosperous nation through peaceful democratic engagement.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier dismissed a suit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide challenging the emergence of Mark as ADC National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
Justice Liman held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it concerned the internal affairs of a political party, while also ruling that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the action and failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism before approaching the court.
The court subsequently affirmed the legality of the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola, holding that the process complied with the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.