Details of the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have emerged from the certified true copy of the ruling.

The resignation letter

Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on 5 November 2026, examined three main issues. The first was a letter said to show that the party's deputy national chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, had resigned in May 2025, before the meeting that installed the new leadership. After comparing signatures, the judge found clear differences, described the letter as fictitious or fabricated and rejected it as evidence.

Powers of the executive committee

The ADC argued that its constitution allowed the National Executive Committee to dissolve the old leadership and appoint a new one. The judge accepted that parties may run their internal affairs, but held that this cannot override the Constitution and the Electoral Act, which require parties to elect their principal officers through periodic democratic elections. He ruled that the committee's administrative powers did not allow it to appoint national executives in place of an election.

No proof of a vote

The judge also found that the party could not show that members or delegates had been given the chance to vote for candidates of their choice, and said notifying INEC of a meeting was not the same as complying with the law.

Background

The judgment also voided the primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as the ADC's presidential candidate. The party has appealed, and INEC says it will obey the final court decision. Atiku and his running mate Rotimi Amaechi are continuing to campaign.

Rotimi Amaechi, the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says the party is on course to defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

His predictions

Speaking at the ADC's presidential rally in Bauchi on Saturday, 14 November 2026, Amaechi gave a state-by-state breakdown of the race. He claimed Atiku Abubakar had secured the support of 13 states across the North-East and North-West, and said Tinubu could count on only five of the six South-West states, with the sixth going to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the party of Oyo governor Seyi Makinde. He named Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa as North Central states Atiku would win easily, said the South-East would offer Tinubu nothing, and said the ADC would campaign hard in the South-South.

Background

Amaechi, a former Rivers governor and transport minister, is Atiku's running mate. Their candidacy faces a legal challenge after a court voided the ADC primary that produced them, a judgment the party has appealed. Tinubu's campaign has received endorsements from several state leaders in recent days. The claims could not be independently verified. The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

Oriyomi Hamzat, the Accord Party's governorship candidate in Oyo State, has declared support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027.

What he said

Speaking to journalists on Saturday, 14 November 2026, on the sidelines of the University of Ibadan's convocation, where he received a master's degree in peace and conflict resolution, the Ibadan-based broadcaster said he would not act against the President, citing loyalty. His comments came as voters in the South-West weigh three prominent southern presidential candidates: Tinubu, Oyo governor Seyi Makinde of the APM and Peter Obi of the NDC.

Background

Hamzat is a popular radio presenter in Ibadan. He is running to succeed Makinde, who is in his second and final term and is now challenging Tinubu for the presidency. The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

Popular social media personality GehGeh has declared strong support for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying Obi stands apart because of the genuine love and confidence his supporters have in him.

"Genuine love and belief"

According to GehGeh, many Nigerians backing Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, do so because they believe he is qualified, capable and able to lead the country in a better direction.

He argued that things are different with some other candidates, whose supporters, in his view, are more interested in what they personally stand to gain if their candidate wins.

The Burkina Faso vow

GehGeh went further, saying that if Obi fails to win in 2027, he will give up on Nigeria completely and relocate to Burkina Faso.

His statement reflects his frustration with the country's political situation and his belief that Nigeria needs a different kind of leadership.

Different, or just more emotional?

His declaration also raises a fair question. Is support for Obi genuinely different from that for other politicians, or are Nigerians simply becoming more emotionally attached to their preferred candidates? Supporters of every major candidate would argue that their backing is sincere.

Over to you

Do you agree with GehGeh that Peter Obi enjoys more genuine public support than other presidential hopefuls?