A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and voided its decisions, including the nomination of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar as the party's 2027 presidential candidate, according to reports on Thursday, 5 November 2026.

The judgment

Justice Peter Lifu reportedly delivered the judgment in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former national deputy chairman of the ADC for the North-East. The court ruled against the caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark and set aside all decisions it took on behalf of the party, which would include the primary that produced Atiku as candidate. Full details of the court's reasoning and any orders to INEC were still emerging.

Timing

The ruling came less than 24 hours after Atiku formally launched his presidential campaign at a rally in Sokoto, which his campaign said drew a large crowd.

Background

The ADC became the platform of a coalition of opposition figures in 2025, with David Mark as interim national chairman. Its leadership has faced legal challenges from former officials who say they were wrongly pushed aside. Several court cases over party primaries are ongoing across all major parties, and courts have recently sacked candidates in Nasarawa and ordered changes elsewhere.

What happens next

The ADC and Atiku are widely expected to appeal. Until the appeal is decided, it is not clear how the ruling will affect his candidacy or the party's campaign. Neither Atiku nor the party had responded publicly at the time of reporting.

Enugu State governor Peter Mbah has sparked reactions after claiming credit for a popular campaign song.

What he said

In comments shared on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Mbah reportedly said he was the first person to start singing 'APC Ka Mma', an Igbo phrase meaning 'APC is better'. He added that he was not sure other political parties had been given copyright permission to sing it. The song has become popular at campaign events, and supporters of other parties have adapted it, including a recent viral version in which a Catholic priest led a congregation in singing that Peter Obi's party is better.

Background

Mbah was elected governor of Enugu State in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is one of the South East governors who have declared support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election, and Enugu has hosted major APC rallies. The South East is expected to be a key battleground between Tinubu and Obi, a former Anambra governor.

How people reacted

Many social media users criticised the comment, saying a campaign song should not be used to restrict political expression and that the governor should focus on economic and security problems. Others saw it as a joke and said the song's popularity showed the APC was gaining ground in the region.

Former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has said his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 election is no longer valid.

What he said

Asked in a television interview, reported on Thursday, 5 November 2026, whether he still stood by the endorsement, Oyinlola reportedly replied that it had expired. He explained that he and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Osun endorsed the President on 20 July 2025 as a strategic move, because of problems in the state that they believed only the President could solve, including missing local government funds and a dispute over who should occupy the local council offices. He said the endorsement was meant to help resolve those issues, but the solution had not come.

Background

Oyinlola governed Osun State from 2003 to 2010. Osun has been at the centre of a long-running dispute over control of its local governments, involving the PDP-led state government of Governor Ademola Adeleke and APC-backed council officials, with court rulings and disagreements over the release of council funds. The PDP itself is divided, with some members backing Tinubu, others joining opposition coalitions, and a court battle over its national leadership.

Why it matters

The withdrawal is a setback for the President's campaign in Osun, a swing state in the South West. The APC says it remains confident of winning the state, while opposition parties hope to benefit from discontent there.

What happens next

Oyinlola did not say which candidate, if any, he would now support.

Serah Ibrahim, a grassroots mobiliser widely associated with Peter Obi's Obidient Movement, has publicly backed Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde's bid for the presidency.

What happened

According to reports, Ibrahim appeared at the Allied Peoples Movement's presidential manifesto event in Abuja, where she introduced Makinde to the audience and described him as the most outstanding Nigerian on the ballot. She said she had helped develop his presidential policy document, called the Reset Agenda, which focuses on the economy, security, education and governance.

Obi's response

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, addressed speculation about a rift with Ibrahim in a video, describing her as his daughter. He did not criticise her decision.

Background

Makinde, who is completing his second term as Oyo governor, is the APM's presidential candidate for 2027. The opposition is split between several candidates, including Obi of the NDC and Atiku Abubakar of the ADC, while President Bola Tinubu seeks a second term on the APC platform. Several of Makinde's own officials have resigned from his government in recent weeks.

How people reacted

Some Obi supporters criticised Ibrahim, while others said she was free to support any candidate. Makinde's supporters welcomed her backing.