The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress led by former Senate President David Mark, and invalidated all decisions taken by the party under its leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment, declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, which conducted the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer.

The court also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary and other national officers, as well as the nominations of all candidates presented by the party for the 2027 elections.

The judgment followed a suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.

Gombe argued that following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.

He consequently asked the court to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants.

Upholding Gombe’s case, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

According to Punch, the court also held that INEC should not recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025.

Speaking after the judgment, counsel for Gombe, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said, “All the actions taken by the ADC as a party since July 27 to date stand annulled.”

Another counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the judgment left the ADC without candidates for any elective position in the 2027 elections, from the presidency to the governorship, Senate and House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the ADC would appeal the judgment.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force and the Military have rescued eight persons abducted around Millennium City and Marabar Rido areas of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Some of the eight rescued Kaduna Kidnapped victims.

The victims were rescued between October 31 and November 2, 2026, through coordinated operations by the security and intelligence agencies in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government.

Addressing a news conference at the DSS Command headquarters in Kaduna, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, CP Muhammad Rabiu, said the operation was part of sustained efforts to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for recurring abductions in the Millennium City General Area and its environs.

Rabiu said the area had witnessed recurring incidents of kidnapping, generating considerable public concern and attracting media attention over the safety of residents and other stakeholders.

The rescued victims were identified as Jamila Muhammad, 27, wife of Abdulkadir Bello; Talatu Yakubu, 40; Yunana Bawa, 30; Calista Bishop, 27; Chidinma Onuwere, 36; Eucharia Obi, 41; Godiya Victor, 50; and Miracle Alex, an eight-year-old girl.

The latest rescue came barely weeks after security agencies successfully rescued Ahmad Zakka and members of his family from captivity on October 15, 2026.

The Commissioner said the successive breakthroughs demonstrated the determination of security agencies to ensure the rescue of kidnapping victims and dismantle criminal networks operating across the state.

He acknowledged the strategic coordination and contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the operational support of the Nigeria Police Force, the intelligence-driven efforts of the DSS and the involvement of the Military in the operations.

Rabiu also commended the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, for its continued support and cooperation with security agencies in tackling kidnapping and banditry.

He said the operations reflected the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to strengthening national security and protecting lives and property through effective coordination among the country’s security and intelligence institutions.

The police commissioner further assured residents that the government, working with security agencies, was intensifying efforts to eliminate kidnapping and banditry across Kaduna State, adding that ongoing security operations would be sustained and strengthened to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

The Police Commissioner while noting the bandits take advantage of the complex terrain in the state, he assured that, additional deployment of personnel and equipment, including 30 vans and eight armored personal carriers to ensure a secured environment.

He, however, called on residents to complement the efforts of security agencies by remaining vigilant and providing credible, accurate and actionable intelligence on the activities, identities and movements of suspected kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in their communities.

He assured members of the public that information supplied to security agencies would be treated with the necessary confidentiality and acted upon appropriately. He also urged traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the collective campaign against insecurity.

Rabiu  appealed to media organisations to sustain their support through responsible and professional reporting, particularly by avoiding the publication of unverified information capable of undermining security operations or creating unnecessary panic, reaffirming the commitment of the DSS, ONSA, Police, Military and Kaduna State Government to restoring lasting peace across the state.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has bagged the Distinguished Human Capital Development Champion Award, in recognition of his outstanding investments in education, skills development, youth empowerment and sustainable development.

The Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria (CIHCDN), which honoured him with the award, noted that it celebrates the Governor’s people-centred policies.

The award which was presented at the Institute’s National Conference held at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, applauds Governor Uba Sani’s initiatives in expanding access to education, healthcare, vocational skills, economic opportunities and improved living conditions of citizens of Kaduna State.

The Institute stated that the award recognises exceptional leadership in advancing education, healthcare, skills development, rural transformation, financial inclusion, youth empowerment and capacity building.

It described Governor Uba Sani’s initiatives as a model of people-centred governance capable of delivering sustainable development and improved opportunities for Kaduna State citizens.

Speaking after receiving the award, the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, expressed the Governor’s appreciation to the Institute, for recognising the commitment of Kaduna State to human capital development.

“This recognition is a testament to Governor Uba Sani’s unwavering commitment to placing people at the centre of governance. His Excellency firmly believes that the greatest investment any government can make is in its people, particularly the young, women and the vulnerable,” Maiyaki stated.

He cited the establishment of three Vocational Training and Skills Development Centres in Rigachikun, Soba and Samarun Kataf, designed to equip approximately 32,000 young people annually with practical, industry-relevant skills across 14 trades.

“These centres represent a deliberate shift towards building a productive, skilled and economically independent generation. Our objective is to transform young people from job seekers into skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and employers of labour,” he explained.

The Commissioner further noted that the administration has made substantial investments in education, including the construction of 736 new classrooms, renovation of over 1,200 classrooms, recruitment of 10,000 teachers and training of more than 33,000 teachers to strengthen quality education and enhance access.

He recalled the reduction of tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by up to 50 per cent, alongside expanded scholarship and bursary interventions, demonstrating the Governor’s determination to remove financial barriers to education.

On agricultural development, Maiyaki disclosed that the administration has distributed 1,400 trucks of free fertiliser to 420,000 smallholder farmers, describing the intervention as a major investment in rural livelihoods, food security and economic empowerment.

“Governor Uba Sani recognises that human capital development goes beyond the classroom. It includes empowering farmers to become more productive, equipping young people with employable skills, strengthening healthcare delivery and creating opportunities for families to achieve economic independence,” he said.

Maiyaki also highlighted the Governor’s investments in healthcare, including the revitalisation of 255 Primary Healthcare Centres, improved welfare for healthcare professionals and initiatives to expand access to quality medical services, particularly in underserved rural communities.

He stressed that the administration’s development agenda is anchored on inclusive governance, by ensuring that opportunities and government interventions reach communities, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliations.

“This award is not merely a recognition of achievements recorded; it is an encouragement to do even more. His Excellency remains resolute in building a Kaduna State where every child has access to quality education, every young person has an opportunity to acquire productive skills, and every citizen has a fair chance to prosper,” Maiyaki added.

The Commissioner assured the Institute that the recognition would further strengthen the Governor’s determination to consolidate ongoing reforms and accelerate investments in human capital development.