By Felix Umande

In a stunning judgment that has thrown the African Democratic Congress (ADC) into fresh crisis, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday voided the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party and annulled the 2027 presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.

Presiding Judge, Justice Peter Lifu, held that the caretaker committee was illegally constituted, and consequently, all steps taken by it including the nomination of Atiku and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate were null and void.

The court also barred Senator Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

Judgment in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 was delivered barely a day after Atiku staged a large rally in Sokoto, casting fresh legal doubt on his presidential bid.

The suit was instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who contended that upon the resignation of Chief Ralph Nwosu as National Chairman, the party constitution positioned him to assume leadership, and that the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker violated both the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

Defendants in the matter were the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu.

Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims, declared the Mark-led committee unlawful, and set aside all actions undertaken under its authority.

The ADC has vowed to appeal. Its National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined as an interested party, said the party will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

Atiku, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ADC, had begun campaigning with a pledge to restore fuel subsidy and reopen land borders. His Sokoto rally featured former Governor Amaechi accusing the Tinubu administration of unprecedented corruption, and former Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, accusing state authorities of frustrating opposition campaign.

The verdict adds to long-running leadership litigations rocking the ADC. In July 2026, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed a Federal High Court order restraining INEC from recognising state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Mark-led caretaker.

In a 2-1 decision, with Justices Okon Abang and Donatus Okorowo in the majority and Justice Abba Mohammed dissenting, the appellate court ruled that power to conduct state congresses resided in elected state executives, not caretaker national leadership.

The ADC and Atiku camp at the time argued the judgment concerned only state congresses and the tenure of state executives, not the presidential primary.

Spokesman Phrank Shaibu had said then that “political propaganda can never substitute for judicial pronouncements.”

The new judgment now directly attacks the caretaker’s power to organise the presidential primary, effectively rendering that distinction irrelevant.

For the ruling APC, the development offers reprieve, as Atiku had sought to present the ADC as the main opposition vehicle, accusing the government of anti-people policies and promising economic restoration.

By Michael Lim, Jos

Hon. Aminu Zang, has rejected his inclusion in the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council in Plateau state. The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, has taken the decision insisting that he remains a committed member of the opposition party.

Zang’s name reportedly appeared as number 254 on the published list of the APC Campaign Council’s Central Planning Committee. But he pointed out to say that he was neither consulted nor informed before his name was included on the committee list.

His statement on the matter entitled, “Clarification on My Inclusion in the 2027 Plateau State Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council – Central Planning Committee (CPC)”, Zang insisted his political allegiance remained firmly with the PDP and the Rainbow Coalition.

In his words: “While I sincerely appreciate those who considered me worthy of inclusion and deemed me suitable for the responsibilities associated with this important assignment, I wish to state, unequivocally and without any ambiguity, that I remain an unrepentant and committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the RAINBOW COALITION extraction.”

Speaking in a telephone conversation with the Vanguard correspondent, Zang said:

“They didn’t consult me. I’m not angry, so to speak. “But, like, if you read the statement that I issued, I thanked those who felt that I was worthy of inclusion in the campaign council list.”

He added: “Unfortunately for them, I am a bona fide member of the PDP, so I cannot belong to the PDP and now be in the APC campaign council team. I cannot.”

On his political position ahead of the 2027 general elections, he said:

“I am supporting Wike’s position that Tinubu returns, but for the governor, no way. I’m in the PDP.

“Of course, we have a candidate in the PDP, Chief Kefas Wungak Ropshik.”

He also disclosed that the PDP had yet to constitute its campaign council, saying, “No, not yet. They are working on it.”

Zang urged political stakeholders, party members, supporters and members of the public to embrace peace, tolerance, civility and political decorum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said, “The electoral process should be approached with maturity, mutual respect and a strong sense of responsibility.”

He also urged all stakeholders to seek the guidance and intervention of Almighty God for a peaceful electoral process.

…Wants UK to blacklist sponsors, probe attack on women, Dan’iya convoy

By Aliyu Musa, Abuja

A political pressure group, Arewa Transformational Leaders Forum, has petitioned the British High Commission in Abuja over alleged escalating political repression and violence in Sokoto State ahead of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign flag-off scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

In a petition dated November 3, 2026, signed by Muhammed Umar for the Forum, the group asked for diplomatic intervention and accused Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration and the APC leader in the state, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, of suppressing opposition participation.

The Forum alleged that on Monday, November 2, 2026 – barely 48 hours to the presidential campaign flag-off – the Sokoto State Government sealed the ADC campaign office designated as the venue for the event. The group described it as the use of governmental authority for partisan suppression.

“An elected government cannot legitimately close the political space through which others seek a democratic mandate,” it said.

The group further alleged that on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, women participating in a peaceful ADC solidarity procession were attacked and sustained serious injuries. The Forum identified one Aliyu KC and his associates, described as a well-known political thug of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as responsible, and demanded impartial investigation, arrest and prosecution.

“On October 30, 2026, the convoy of the ADC governorship candidate, His Excellency Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, was allegedly attacked by Sokoto State Security Outfits”.

The Forum raised alarm over what it called mysterious and deeply troubling circumstances surrounding the release of Aliyu KC and his associates from prison, and their subsequent alleged involvement in attacks.

It urged investigation into the date and legal basis of their release, the authority that approved it, any conditions attached, and involvement of public officials or political intermediaries, including court orders, release warrants or instruments of executive clemency.

“The sequence of release followed by political violence raises serious questions about political protection and the integrity of the release process,” the petition said.

The group also drew attention to unverified reports that APC stakeholders have mobilised political thugs to disrupt ADC activities and that motorcycles have been procured for their operations, but said it distinguishes these warnings from established findings and wants immediate investigation and preventive protection.

The Forum linked the situation to insecurity, noting that the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office currently advises against all travel to Sokoto State, arguing that politically protected violence weakens lawful institutions and emboldens coercive groups.

The Forum asked the British High Commission and other diplomatic missions to: “Engage urgently with Sokoto State Government and federal authorities to secure peaceful political participation before, during and after November 4, with impartial security protection for participants, journalists, residents and property;

“Blacklist identified perpetrators and sponsors on the basis of credible evidence, through visa refusals or revocations, travel restrictions and other applicable sanctions under UK laws;

“Press for independent investigations into attacks on women and the governorship candidate, circumstances of Aliyu KC’s release, and recruitment, financing, equipping or protection of perpetrators, including motorcycle-procurement reports;

“Seek immediate explanation of the office sealing, including its legal basis and urge reopening unless lawful justification is established;

“Monitor developments and seek accountability through engagement with affected persons, legal practitioners and civil society, with safeguards against witness retaliation.

“We place Governor Ahmed Aliyu, the Sokoto State Government and Senator Wamakko on express notice of these foreseeable threats. We urge the international community to hold them politically accountable for further violence connected to their supporters or proxies,” the Forum said.

It added: “Sokoto belongs to its people. No governor, former governor, or ruling party owns its political space.”

As at press time, the Sokoto State Government, Senator Wamakko and the APC were yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to get their reaction were ongoing.

The group said it requested an urgent opportunity to brief political and human-rights officers of the High Commission and urged all parties to reject retaliation and support peaceful participation.