The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described Wednesday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, purportedly sacking the Senator David Mark-led leadership and invalidating the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as a desperate attempt to cripple the opposition.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the timing of the judgment, barely 24 hours after its massive presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, exposes the growing desperation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We have reasons to believe that the judgment had long been written. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery. Yesterday, Nigerians came out in their hundreds of thousands to demonstrate their support for the ADC. Today, they are being told that the party they support could be erased by the stroke of a reckless judicial pen,” the party said.
The ADC questioned whether those behind the judgment considered its far-reaching implications, warning that invalidating its leadership could affect thousands of candidates contesting at local, state and federal levels.
“Do these people understand what they are playing with? This is not about Atiku Abubakar or David Mark. It is about the democratic rights of Nigerians to freely choose their own leaders,” it said.
The party maintained that the judgment is legally indefensible and would be challenged.
“Our objection is particularly anchored on the subsisting judgment of Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, delivered on 2 July 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led NWC and directed INEC to recognise the leadership. It is a settled principle that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over the subsisting judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction,” Abdullahi stated.
“The ADC, therefore, rejects any consequential orders founded on a determination that appears to disregard these fundamental legal principles. However, we await the Certified True Copy of the said judgment to ascertain its precise terms and operative orders.”
The party added: “We have seen this script before. When they are scared that the opposition is gathering steam, they use their judges to deliver legally indefensible judgments. But the millions of Nigerians that are hungry and waiting at the ballot box see right through them.”
The ADC warned the APC against attempting to eliminate political competition through judicial controversies.
“We warn the APC: do not play with fires you cannot control. The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party. Nobody should be so desperate to retain power that they are prepared to put the entire country at risk.
“Nigeria belongs to Nigerians, not to the APC. The presidency is not an inheritance. If the President thinks he has performed well, why is he afraid of competition?” the party queried.
It called on the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to foist dictatorship, urging members across the country to remain calm and law-abiding while it pursues all legal means to address the situation.
