The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to cripple opposition politics through what it described as a questionable court judgment nullifying the leadership of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC).
The party also alleged that the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which it said could invalidate the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was part of a desperate attempt to weaken its growing political influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC linked the timing of the judgment to its presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, which reportedly attracted a massive crowd.
Titled ‘Lifu Judgment: APC Wants to Set Nigeria on Fire’, the statement described the ruling as an attempt to deny Nigerians the right to freely choose their leaders.
The party alleged that the judgment was delivered barely 24 hours after its Sokoto rally because of the growing support for its political platform.
“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 statement read.
It added that Nigerians had turned out in large numbers at the rally to demonstrate support for the ADC and its promise of making life affordable, only to be confronted with a court decision that could affect the party’s candidates.
“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 said.
The ADC also warned that the implications of the judgment extended beyond Atiku and David Mark, noting that it could affect thousands of candidates seeking elective positions 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,” Abdullahi stated.
On the legal implications of the ruling, the party argued that the judgment was indefensible, citing an earlier decision delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
According to the ADC, the earlier judgment affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led NWC and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership.
The party maintained that a court of coordinate jurisdiction could not review or nullify the subsisting judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction.
It, however, disclosed that it was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the latest judgment to establish its precise terms, scope and consequential orders.
The opposition party further accused the APC of using judicial controversies to frustrate opposition parties whenever they appeared to be gaining political momentum.
“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 issued a warning to the ruling party against what it described as attempts to eliminate political competition through the courts, arguing that such actions could threaten national 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 party said.
It questioned why the APC would be afraid of electoral competition if it believed its policies and candidates enjoyed widespread public support.
“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?” the statement asked.
The ADC also called on the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to impose dictatorship on the country, insisting that the controversy went beyond the interests of the party and its presidential hopeful.
“This is not just about the ADC or Atiku Abubakar; it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” it stated.
The party urged its members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while it pursues all available legal avenues to challenge the judgment.
