ADC Hails Court Ruling On Primaries, Electoral Timelines

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on party primaries and electoral timelines, describing the judgment as a vindication of its earlier objections to aspects of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines.

In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the court decision supported its position that some provisions of the electoral framework conflicted with constitutional rights, particularly on membership registration timelines and the conduct of party primaries.

According to the ADC, the judgment also addressed concerns it had previously raised about restrictions it believed could limit political participation and the freedom of association of aspirants.

“The decision of the court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” the statement said.

The party further argued that the ruling effectively removed barriers that could have prevented politicians from switching platforms ahead of elections, insisting that such constraints were designed to discourage defections from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We believed at the time that that particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC,” the statement added.

The ADC said the development would strengthen democratic participation and open space for politicians dissatisfied with their current parties to seek alternative platforms.

It also expressed confidence that the judgment could trigger a wave of defections from the APC in the coming days as the political environment becomes more fluid ahead of the next election cycle.