ADC REJECTS COURT JUDGMENT NULLIFYING MARK-LED LEADERSHIP, ATIKU’S CANDIDACY
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
The African Democratic Congress has faulted the Federal High Court judgment nullifying its National Working Committee, led by former Senate President David Mark, and invalidating the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The party vowed to pursue all available legal avenues to challenge the ruling, warning that the decision raised serious concerns about the political rights of its members and candidates ahead of the elections.
The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
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The party also questioned the timing of the judgment, alleging that it was delivered amid heightened political activities and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
In the statement titled, ‘Lifu Judgment: APC Wants to Set Nigeria on Fire’, the ADC warned that the ruling could affect thousands of its members seeking elective positions across the country.
The statement read, “Yesterday, Nigerians came out in their hundreds of thousands to demonstrate their support for the ADC and our promise of making life affordable for them.
“Today, they are being told that the party that they support and the candidates that they have supported at all levels could be erased by the stroke of a reckless judicial pen.”
The party insisted that the dispute extended beyond Atiku and Mark, arguing that the judgment threatened the democratic rights of Nigerians and the ability of its members to participate in the electoral process.
“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 is about the rights of thousands of candidates to participate in a democratic process,” it added.
The ADC also challenged the ruling by referring to an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 2, 2026, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
According to the party, the earlier decision affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise its leadership.
It maintained that a court of coordinate jurisdiction lacked the authority to review, vary or overturn a subsisting judgment delivered by another court of equal jurisdiction.
The statement read, “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 of Nigerian jurisprudence that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction.”
Reaffirming its position, the party said it would reject any consequential orders arising from what it described as a flawed judicial determination.
“The ADC, therefore, rejects any consequential orders founded on a determination that appears to disregard these fundamental legal principles,” Abdullahi stated.
The party, however, disclosed that it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the latest judgment to determine its exact terms, scope and operative orders.
“We have seen this script before. When they are scared that the opposition is gathering steam, they use their judges in the courts to influence legally indefensible judgments,” the statement added.
The ADC also called on the judiciary to uphold democratic principles and urged the ruling All Progressives Congress to allow political competition ahead of the 2027 elections.
It warned that the country’s peace and stability should not be jeopardised by the political ambitions of any individual or party.
“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 in office, why is he afraid of competition?” the party stated.
It further urged the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to undermine democratic processes, stressing that the implications of the dispute extended beyond the ADC and its presidential candidate.
“This is not just about the ADC or Atiku Abubakar; it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” it said.
The party appealed to its members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding as it explores all legal options to challenge the ruling.
PUNCH Online reports that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday nullified the leadership of the Mark-led ADC and invalidated decisions taken under its leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The judgment followed a suit filed 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.
Justice Lifu ruled that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions reached at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said the judgment nullified all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership since July 2025.
Another counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), maintained that the ruling effectively left the party without candidates for the 2027 presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections.
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