The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to destabilise Nigeria through what it described as politically motivated court judgments following a Federal High Court ruling nullifying the leadership of the party led by Senator David Mark.
The opposition party alleged that the judgment, which also invalidated the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, was part of a desperate attempt to weaken the opposition and prevent Nigerians from freely choosing their leaders.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, on Thursday nullified the Mark-led leadership of the ADC, declaring its actions on behalf of the party invalid.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership assumed control of the ADC.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
He asked the court to nullify decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The court upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs he sought, effectively invalidating the activities of the Mark-led Caretaker Committee, including the primary election that produced Atiku as the ADC’s presidential candidate.
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC described it as another attempt to cripple the opposition, insisting that the ruling threatened the democratic rights of Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party linked the timing of the judgment to the massive turnout recorded at Atiku’s presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State on Wednesday.
The party alleged that the ruling APC had become uncomfortable with the growing popularity of the ADC following the rally, which was held barely 24 hours before the court delivered its judgment.
The statement read, “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.
“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 ADC questioned the implications of the judgment, warning that the decision could affect thousands of its candidates seeking elective positions at the local, state and federal levels.
According to the party, the dispute goes beyond the political ambitions of Atiku and Mark, insisting that it concerns the rights of Nigerians to participate in the democratic process and choose their preferred leaders.
“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 statement added.
The opposition party also maintained that the judgment was legally indefensible, arguing that it contradicted an earlier ruling delivered by another judge of the Federal High Court.
It cited a judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which it said affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership.
The ADC argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction lacked the authority to review, vary or overturn a subsisting judgment delivered by another court of equal jurisdiction.
It, however, disclosed that it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of Thursday’s judgment to determine its exact terms and the orders made by the court.
“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 (CTC) of the said judgment to ascertain its precise terms, scope and operative orders,” the statement said.
The party further accused the APC of using the judiciary to frustrate opposition parties whenever they appeared to be gaining political support.
“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.
The ADC added that Nigerians experiencing economic hardship would not remain silent if they believed their democratic rights were being undermined.
Warning the ruling party against what it described as a dangerous attempt to eliminate political competition, the opposition party said the consequences could threaten the peace and stability of the country.
“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. This is not the time to play silly games with the stability of this country,” the statement added.
The party also questioned why the APC would be afraid of a competitive election if the ruling party believed its policies and candidates enjoyed widespread public support.
“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? 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 also called on the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to impose what it described as dictatorship on the country.
“This is not just about the ADC or Atiku Abubakar; it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” the party stated.
It urged its members and supporters across the country to remain calm and law-abiding while the party pursues all available legal means to challenge the judgment.