The All Progressives Congress, APC, has formally presented Sharafadeen Ali and Adesoji Adedeji as its governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2027 election in Oyo State.

The unveiling ceremony took place in Ibadan on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the party’s national headquarters in Abuja uploaded their names on the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The event effectively ended speculations surrounding the possible replacement of some candidates’ names and attracted candidates contesting various elective positions under the APC platform.

Party leaders, stakeholders and supporters were also present at the ceremony, where the candidates were officially introduced ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday affirmed David Mark leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Justice Musa Liman, in a judgment, also dismissed the suit filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, challenging Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary, respectively, of the party for lacking in merit.

Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections filed by ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark and Aregbesola which challenged Abejide’s suit.

The judge held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to dabble into the internal affairs of ADC, as the suit was non-justiciable.

He also held that Abejide lacked the legal right to have instituted the suit, having failed to show to the court that his rights had been violated in any way as a result of the emergence of Mark-led leadership.

He equally held that Abejide, who is a member of the House of Representatives, failed to explore the party’s internal mechanism for dispute resolution.

Justice Liman also resolved the three issues in the substantive suit in favour of the defendants.

On whether Mark, a former Senate President and Aregbesola, who was former Governor of Osun, emerged as leaders of the party in compliance with the enabling laws, the judge resolved the question against Abejide, the plaintiff in the suit.

The judge held that the handing over of the leadership of the party by Nwosu to Mark did not violate the provisions of the party’s constitution.

The judge agreed that the disputed July 2, 2025 meeting of the party was a stakeholder meeting which preceded the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held on July 29, 2025, that produced Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s leaders, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Justice Liman, therefore, declared that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of ADC was valid and in accordance with the constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026 and party’s law.

The judge consequently awarded a fine of N2 million each in favour of all the defendants – to be paid by Abejide.

He also awarded a N10 million fine against Abejide’s lawyer in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026.

Recall that Abejide had instituted the suit to stop the Mark leadership of ADC.

In the originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 filed on February 15, 2026, Abejide sued ADC, Ralph Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola and INEC as 1st to 5th defendants, respectively.

Nwosu was the former national chairman of ADC who stepped down for Mark, the ex-Senate president.

Abejide, among other reliefs, sought an order nullifying Nwosu’s handover or transfer of ADC’s leadership to Mark and Aregbesola, as interim national chairman and interim national secretary, respectively, on July 2, 2025, at Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja for being illegal, unlawful, null and void.

He sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as leaders of the party “as their purported appointment, selection or election was unlawful, illegal, null and void”.

He also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from recognising Mark and Aregbesola as ADC’s interim national chairman and interim national secretary.

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has appointed actor-turned-politician and ADC chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo as his spokesperson.

Okonkwo announced the appointment in a statement posted on his official X handle on Thursday, expressing appreciation to Atiku for the confidence reposed in him.

“I give God all the glory for being appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his spokesperson. I thank His Excellency for the immense confidence reposed in me,” he said.

He described the appointment as a reflection of Atiku’s leadership style, noting that the former vice president values dialogue and inclusiveness over resentment.

“Rather than take offence at associates for expressing genuine reservations about any action taken, His Excellency always opts for dialogue and compromise that engender solutions to problems,” Okonkwo stated.

According to him, discussions with Atiku and other ADC leaders addressed concerns over the political interests of the South-East within the framework of the Electoral Act, 2026, and prevailing political realities.

“At a dialogue with His Excellency and other well-meaning members of the African Democratic Congress, the interests of the South-East were discussed and guaranteed within the existing challenges posed by the Electoral Act, 2026, and the realities on the ground,” he said.

Okonkwo also expressed gratitude to Dr. Kashim Imam, former ADC National Chairman Ralphs Nwosu, and Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Dr. Ekene Onwuka, for their contributions to strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

He further thanked his family, supporters and friends for their encouragement and prayers.

“I still covet your prayers for wisdom, courage, provision and protection needed to carry out this challenging responsibility, which will usher in a glorious and great Nigeria,” he added.

The appointment comes weeks after Okonkwo publicly criticised the ADC’s choice of vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

He had argued that reports indicating the party was considering a vice-presidential candidate from the South-South would further deepen the political marginalisation of the South-East, which, according to him, has not produced either the president or vice president since 1999.

Despite the concerns, the ADC subsequently named former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate after the former vice president secured the party’s presidential ticket.