The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to plunge Nigeria into political turmoil through what it described as a desperate plot to cripple the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party alleged that the Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja, which nullified the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and consequentially affected the party’s candidates, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was part of a calculated attempt to frustrate its growing political momentum.
The ADC further claimed that the timing of the judgment, barely 24 hours after its massive presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, exposed the ruling party’s alleged panic over the increasing support for the opposition.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the judgment as an attempt to deny Nigerians their democratic right to freely choose their leaders.
The party alleged that the judgment had been prepared long before its delivery but that the impressive turnout at the Sokoto rally accelerated its release.
“We have reasons to believe that the judgment had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the ADC declared.
It added that Nigerians had turned out in large numbers at the rally to demonstrate support for the party and its promise to make life affordable, only to be confronted the following day with a judicial decision capable of affecting its candidates across the country.
The opposition party warned that the implications of the judgment extended beyond Atiku and David Mark, arguing that it could affect thousands of candidates seeking elective offices 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 is about the rights of thousands of candidates to participate in a democratic process,” the party said.
The ADC maintained that the judgment was legally indefensible, insisting that an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, delivered on July 2, 2026, had already affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership.
Citing Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, the party argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction lacked the authority to sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting decision of another court of equal jurisdiction.
It consequently rejected what it described as consequential orders founded on a disregard for established legal principles.
However, the ADC disclosed that it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to establish its precise terms, scope and operative orders before pursuing further legal action.
The party also accused the APC of repeatedly resorting to judicial controversies whenever the opposition appeared to be gaining political ground.
“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,” it alleged.
In one of its strongest warnings, the ADC cautioned the ruling party against what it described as a dangerous attempt to eliminate political competition through the courts, declaring that the consequences could threaten the country’s peace and stability.
“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,” the statement said.
The party further challenged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to submit themselves to a free and fair electoral contest if they were confident in their performance and popularity.
“If the President thinks he has performed well in office, why is he afraid of competition? If the APC thinks that its policies and candidates are popular, why don’t they subject themselves to free and fair elections?” it queried.
The ADC insisted that Nigeria belonged to its citizens and not any political party, warning that the presidency must not be treated as an inheritance or political entitlement.
It vowed to pursue every available judicial avenue to challenge the judgment, maintaining that no political ambition should take precedence over Nigerians’ constitutional and democratic rights.
