In a statement released on Friday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to settle its internal leadership dispute rather than accusing the ruling party of colluding with the judiciary over a court ruling that invalidated the David Mark‑led leadership and the presidential candidacy of Atiku Abubakar.
National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka described the ADC’s reaction to the judgment as “senseless rants” and insisted that the APC had no involvement in the legal dispute. He said the opposition party had repeatedly accused the ruling party of collusion and attacked the judiciary whenever court decisions went against it, but praised the courts when rulings favoured the opposition.
“The ADC touts its desire to win power and govern democratic Nigeria without any iota of regard for the authority and independence of the judiciary, an indispensable pillar of any democracy,” Morka said, accusing the ADC of disregarding judicial independence and of respecting only judges who ruled in its favour.
The court case was an internal ADC dispute, initiated by national officers who alleged that Mark and other leaders had taken control of the party in violation of its internal democracy. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment that sacked the Mark‑led leadership and invalidated decisions taken by the executive, including the party’s primary election processes and outcomes.
Morka urged the ADC to pursue an appeal if it was dissatisfied with the decision, rather than engaging in partisan mudslinging against the APC. He added that a party that cannot fix itself “cannot possibly fix Africa’s most important country.”
He concluded that the APC and the Tinubu administration remained committed to democracy, the rule of law and good governance, despite what he called the opposition’s “irresponsible and dangerous rhetoric.”
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
