Fresh Legal Battle Rocks ADC as Aregbesola Moves to Overturn Judgment Nullifying Mark’s Leadership

According to report by Vanguard on Sunday, November 8, 2026, Rauf Aregbesola, the ADC’s National Secretary, has taken his case to the Court of Appeal, challenging the decision of the Federal High Court that discredited the party’s leadership transition under David Mark.

On Friday, Aregbesola’s lawyer Mohammed Sheriff—a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)—filed a notice of appeal on his behalf, requesting that the appellate court reverse Justice Peter Lifu’s decision from Abuja, delivered on November 5.

He contended that the suit, which challenged his appointment as national secretary and the legality of resolutions passed at the 99th ADC NEC meeting, did not fall within the purview of the Federal High Court.

In addition, the ex-governor of Osun State disputed the court’s finding that Nafiu Gombe’s authority to oversee the party’s business and his four-year term were both upheld.

According to Aregbesola’s attorney, the trial judge incorrectly took jurisdiction over conflicting claims against the party’s leadership in five grounds of appeal.

Sheriff contended that the appointment of a competent substitute until the next convention or congress for a party leadership position can be regulated by the relevant executive organ according to Article 23(4) of the ADC constitution, and that Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 governs such elections.

The decision could have been an interim appointment instead of an election, he argued, so the fact that no one voted at the NEC meeting didn’t make Aregbesola’s appointment null and void.

Aregbesola sought a stay of execution of the judgment until his appeal was decided in an additional application he submitted on Saturday.

According to his attorney, the appeal brought up significant constitutional and legal concerns, including questions of jurisdiction and the meaning of the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

Gombe had earlier sued, asserting his right to head the ADC following Ralph Nwosu’s resignation as national chairman; this led to the current disagreement.

Atiku Abubakar was selected as the party’s presidential candidate for 2027 after the Mark-led caretaker committee was nullified by Justice Lifu on November 5.

Until the outcome of the appeal is known, the ADC has asked INEC to hold off on taking any further action regarding the leadership dispute and has appealed the ruling.

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