The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected Thursday’s Federal High Court judgement sacking its David Mark-led leadership and invalidating Atiku Abubakar’s presidential nomination.
The opposition party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to stop it from contesting the 2027 elections.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it would challenge the judgement delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja.
The party alleged that the judgement had been prepared before Thursday and that its delivery was hastened by the turnout at Atiku’s presidential campaign launch in Sokoto on Wednesday.
“We have reasons to believe that the judgement had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the statement said.
The ADC offered no evidence linking the APC to the judgement or establishing that its delivery was influenced by the rally.
“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,” it said.
The APC’s response to the allegation had not been obtained at the time of filing.
Justice Lifu delivered the judgment in a suit brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who challenged the emergence of Mr Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s national chairman and secretary.
According to Channels Television, the court invalidated decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku.
The ADC said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgement to establish what the judge actually ordered.
