The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Delta State has insisted that its presidential candidate remains unchanged, just as Chief Great Ogboru remains the party’s governorship candidate in the state for the 2027 elections.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Fred Akpevwe, claimed that an earlier Supreme Court judgement affirming David Mark’s position takes precedence over the latest ruling, describing the suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe as “forum shopping”.
According to him, the latest Federal High Court judgement nullifying the David Mark-led national leadership has no effect on the party’s structure.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday nullified the David Mark-led national leadership and its decisions. However, the ADC said it was not disturbed by the development.
Akpevwe insisted that the Supreme Court had already delivered a substantive judgement affirming Mark as the authentic national chairman of the party.
“The court ruling has no effect whatsoever on our party because the Supreme Court has already delivered a substantive judgement affirming David Mark as the authentic leader and national chairman of the party.
“Therefore, if a lower court says otherwise, we will respect and abide by the Supreme Court judgement, which takes precedence over the ruling of a lower court,” he said.
He urged party members and supporters across Delta State to remain calm and sustain their political activities.
“My advice to our supporters is that they should remain calm and continue their campaigns. They should disregard the court judgement because it has no effect whatsoever on our party, particularly as the Supreme Court has already delivered a judgement on the matter, which takes precedence over any ruling by a lower court,” he stated.
The ADC publicity secretary also described the suit filed by Gombe as forum shopping, alleging that the faction behind the legal action was pursuing it to justify money allegedly spent in the process.
“We believe the Nafiu Bala judgement is a case of forum shopping and has no place in law. We also believe that the people behind the litigation are pursuing it to justify the money they allegedly paid and ensure that the money is expended.
“However, we are not in the least bothered by these developments,” he added.
Akpevwe dismissed suggestions that the ruling would affect the party’s candidates for the 2027 elections.
“Our presidential candidate remains who he is, and our governorship candidate for Delta remains Ogboru. We are not bothered at all,” he said.
His comments come amid the ongoing legal battle over the ADC’s national leadership, with the latest judgement adding another dimension to the dispute over the validity of decisions taken under the Mark-led administration.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, on Thursday, November 5, 2026, nullified the emergence of Mark and other members of the party’s national leadership, declaring the processes through which they assumed office unlawful.
The court also nullified decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including actions relating to the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The judgement followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, North-East, who challenged the legality of the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership took control of the party.
