A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)'s 2023 presidential candidate, and four others challenging the current leadership of the party.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling on Friday, upholding preliminary objections raised by the defendants and declaring the matter non-justiciable.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1331/2025 (Hon. Dumebi Kachikwu & 4 Ors. vs. INEC & 5 Ors.), sought to remove key figures including Senator David Mark as interim National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Secretary.
The plaintiffs, Dumebi Kachikwu, Adikwu Elias, Etimbuk Umoh, Muhammad Khala, and Alakum William had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ADC, former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, Senator David Mark, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to court.
In her judgment, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that issues of party membership and leadership are internal, voluntary matters that fall outside the court's jurisdiction.
“The issue of membership and leadership of a political party is voluntary and as such any aggrieved person should employ the internal mechanism of the party to resolve such grievances or at best, opt out and join other parties,” she stated.
She further emphasized that such cases are non-justiciable and beyond judicial intervention.
The leadership dispute stems from last year's opposition coalition move that installed Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in interim roles, which Kachikwu and his co-plaintiffs contested.
Reacting to the decision, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi described it as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.
“This judgement is a welcome affirmation of the well-established legal principle that political parties retain the constitutional right to manage their internal affairs without undue interference,” he said.
He urged courts to remain apolitical and called on Nigerians to join the ADC, highlighting online registration at www.adcregistration.ng.
The party views the ruling as clearing external obstacles and reinforcing its stability ahead of future political engagements.
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