The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern warning to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of attempting to "set Nigeria on fire" in its bid to retain power in the 2027 elections. The opposition party claims the APC is utilizing the judiciary to cripple the opposition and undermine democratic competition, a stance adopted following a recent Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that threatens the ADC’s leadership and the presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement released by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC argued that the implications of the ruling extend far beyond individual political figures, potentially affecting thousands of candidates seeking elective offices across the country. The party alleged that the timing of the judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu barely 24 hours after a massive presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, was a direct response to the opposition’s rising political profile.
“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 alleged in the statement.
The ADC contended that the dispute is not merely about the political fortunes of Senator David Mark or Atiku Abubakar, but rather the fundamental right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders. To challenge the recent ruling, the party cited an earlier judgment from July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court. That previous ruling, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, had affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize that leadership.
Abdullahi argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over, review, vary, or nullify a subsisting judgment from another court of equal jurisdiction. Consequently, the ADC rejected any consequential orders that appear to disregard these legal principles, though the party stated it is awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the new judgment to ascertain its precise terms and operative orders.
While urging its members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while pursuing legal remedies, the ADC called on the judiciary to prevent itself from being used to impose dictatorship on the nation. The party challenged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to face the electorate, questioning why a government confident in its performance would fear a competitive election. “The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party,” the statement concluded.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
