The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has filed an appeal on Friday in the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn a November 5 Federal High Court judgment that nullified the party’s National Working Committee and the presidential primary that produced former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar, as the ADC prepares for Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, represented by counsel Mohammed Sheriff, argues that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, lacked jurisdiction to decide the leadership dispute arising from the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting. The appeal requests a stay of execution of the judgment (suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025) and asks the appellate court to set aside the orders that invalidated Aregbesola’s emergence as national secretary and the NEC resolutions.
Sheriff advanced five grounds of appeal, contending that the trial judge erred by relying on Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Section 223(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution without first determining whether the appointments were made under the ADC’s interim vacancy‑filling provisions (Article 23(4) of the party constitution). He also urged the court to remit the case for rehearing before a different judge if jurisdiction was found but a retrial was necessary.
“We are comfortable that we’re going to be on the ballot. Our primaries were conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and directly by the members of the party. No one can interpret the law to bar our candidates,” Lagos State ADC chairman George Ashiru said.
Ashiru dismissed concerns that the legal setback would derail the opposition coalition, noting a July judgment by Justice Liman that affirmed David Mark’s election as interim chairman and asserting that the party’s candidates, including Atiku, will remain on the ballot. The dispute stems from a suit by Nafiu Gombe, who claimed constitutional entitlement to lead after former chairman Raph Nwosu’s resignation, a claim the ADC has contested.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
