-
The Forum of 19 Northern State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress has rejected the Federal High Court judgment that removed the David Mark-led national leadership of the party. The chairmen said they had filed a notice of appeal, interim injunction applications and a stay-of-execution request, and also plan to petition the National Judicial Council over the November 5, 2026 ruling.
The Forum of 19 Northern State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress has moved against the Federal High Court judgment that sacked the David Mark-led national leadership of the party.
The chairmen said they rejected the ruling and would challenge it at the Court of Appeal. They also announced plans to petition the National Judicial Council.
Their position followed the November 5, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the forum, the ruling conflicted with an earlier July 2, 2026 judgment by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court on ADC leadership issues.
The chairmen said their legal team had already filed a notice of appeal. They also said interim injunction applications and a stay-of-execution request had been submitted to protect the party structure and its candidates while the appeal process continues.
The development points to a fresh legal phase in the ADC leadership dispute, with party officials in the North openly contesting the effect of the Abuja judgment and seeking to keep existing structures in place pending appellate review.
Why it matters
The dispute matters because it affects who controls the ADC’s recognised national leadership and, by extension, the party structure across the country. With the northern chairmen asking the Court of Appeal to intervene and preparing a petition to the National Judicial Council, the matter is no longer limited to an internal party disagreement but has become a broader legal and institutional contest.
What it means for your money
There is no direct personal-finance impact established by the verified facts. For party members and candidates, however, the legal uncertainty could affect organisational planning and decisions tied to party structures while the case remains unsettled.
-
The immediate next step is the appellate process, since the chairmen said they have filed a notice of appeal and related applications. Attention will also be on whether the court grants any interim relief, including the stay-of-execution request, pending the appeal. Another development to monitor is whether the planned petition to the National Judicial Council is formally lodged and acted upon.
Northern ADC chairmen have rejected the Federal High Court decision that removed the David Mark-led leadership, and they are now pursuing both an appeal and an NJC petition. The key issue ahead is whether higher legal and oversight bodies will alter or pause the effect of the November 5 ruling.
Five stories, the key numbers, and why they matter. Free, no ads.
Subscribe free
