ADC rejects judgement sacking Mark, Atiku, blames APC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected Thursday’s Federal High Court judgement sacking its David Mark-led management and invalidating Atiku Abubakar’s presidential nomination.

The opposition occasion accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of making an attempt to cease it from contesting the 2027 elections.

In an announcement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC mentioned it could problem the judgement delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja.

The occasion alleged that the judgement had been ready earlier than Thursday and that its supply was hastened by the turnout at Atiku’s presidential marketing campaign launch in Sokoto on Wednesday.

“We have reasons to believe that the judgement had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the assertion mentioned.

The ADC supplied no proof linking the APC to the judgement or establishing that its supply was influenced by the rally.

The occasion warned the APC towards what it described as makes an attempt to make use of the courts to exclude political opponents.

“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,” it mentioned.

The APC’s response to the allegation had not been obtained on the time of submitting.

Justice Lifu delivered the judgment in a swimsuit introduced by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who challenged the emergence of Mr Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola because the occasion’s nationwide chairman and secretary.

According to Channels Television, the court docket invalidated selections taken by the disputed management, together with the presidential main that produced Atiku.

The ADC mentioned it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgement to determine what the choose truly ordered.

ADC cites earlier judgement

The occasion based mostly its objection on a 2 July judgement delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in swimsuit FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.

The case was introduced by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, who challenged the method by means of which Messrs Mark and Aregbesola assumed workplace.

Justice Liman dismissed the swimsuit. According to Channels Television’s report, the court docket upheld the management transition.

Mr Abdullahi argued that Justice Lifu’s ruling conflicted with the sooner judgement.

“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 judgement of another court of equal jurisdiction,” the ADC mentioned.

The two instances had been introduced by completely different claimants.

The ADC mentioned it could problem Thursday’s determination however didn’t affirm whether or not it had filed an attraction or sought a keep of execution.

Leadership dispute

Mr Gombe’s swimsuit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, arose from the ADC management transition following the departure of former nationwide chairman Ralph Nwosu.

He argued that his place as deputy nationwide chairman entitled him to succeed Mr Nwosu and sought orders restraining Messrs Mark and Aregbesola from appearing because the occasion’s nationwide chairman and secretary.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Court nullifies Atiku’s candidacy, sacks all ADC candidates, party leadership

PREMIUM TIMES examined the leadership litigation in an October report.

In April, the Supreme Court put aside a Court of Appeal directive requiring the events to keep up the established order, with out deciding who was entitled to guide the ADC.

A separate appellate ruling in July involved INEC’s recognition of occasion congresses organised by means of committees appointed by the Mark-led management.

Mr Atiku launched his presidential marketing campaign in Sokoto on Wednesday, a day earlier than Justice Lifu’s ruling.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had not publicly introduced any change to Atiku’s standing on its printed presidential candidate checklist on the time of submitting.