The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern warning to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), cautioning against actions that could destabilize Nigeria as both parties prepare for the 2027 general elections. The opposition party accused the APC of leveraging the judiciary to weaken political rivals and undermine democratic competition, particularly following a recent Federal High Court judgment that invalidated the leadership of ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark.
In a statement released on Thursday by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC questioned the timing of the court’s decision, which arrived less than 24 hours after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar held a campaign rally in Sokoto State. The party alleged that the judgment had been prepared in advance and that the rally served merely as a trigger for its immediate delivery. “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,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC emphasized that the legal dispute extends beyond the personal interests of Mark and Abubakar, arguing that the ruling threatens the rights of thousands of candidates seeking elective offices across the country. The party contended that the judgment could disrupt the process that produced Abubakar as its presidential candidate for 2027. “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,” the statement read.
To challenge the recent ruling, the ADC cited an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja. In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, Justice Liman affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the leadership. The ADC argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot review or nullify a subsisting judgment from another court of equal standing, stating that it awaits the Certified True Copy of the new judgment to determine its precise scope.
The party accused the APC of a pattern of using judicial controversies to frustrate opposition parties whenever they gain political momentum. Abdullahi warned that political ambition should not compromise national stability, urging the ruling party not to “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,” he said.
Concluding its statement, the ADC challenged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to submit themselves to a competitive election, questioning why a government confident in its performance would fear opposition. The party also appealed to the judiciary to avoid being used to undermine democracy and urged its members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while it pursues available legal remedies.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
