The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has described the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, searching for to nullify the management of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in addition to void the nomination of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as a tutorial train that has been overtaken by occasions.
The Council mentioned its authorized group was ready to problem the ruling on the acceptable appellate court docket, insisting that the judgment couldn’t override an present resolution of a court docket of coordinate jurisdiction on the identical material.
In an announcement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC PCC recalled that Justice Musa Liman of the identical Federal High Court had earlier examined the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola and dominated that the switch of management from Chief Ralph Nwosu to Senator Mark didn’t violate the occasion’s structure.
According to the Council, Justice Liman had acknowledged that the disputed July 2, 2025 assembly was a stakeholders’ assembly previous the National Executive Council (NEC) assembly of July 29, 2025, the place Mark and Aregbesola emerged as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
It added that the NEC assembly was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The ADC PCC argued that the sooner judgment had already addressed the occasion’s management query, insisting {that a} subsequent ruling couldn’t merely displace an present judicial resolution with out regard to established authorized ideas.
It consequently described Thursday’s judgment as an train in futility, saying the occasion’s authorized group was taking quick steps to problem the choice by way of acceptable judicial channels.
Beyond the authorized points, the Council questioned the timing of the judgment, linking it to the latest political actions of the ADC and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It alleged that the ruling got here in opposition to the backdrop of what it described because the failed APC presidential marketing campaign flag-off in Kaduna and the profitable ADC presidential marketing campaign flag-off in Sokoto.
The Council claimed that the rising nationwide acceptance of the ADC had unsettled the ruling occasion, accusing the APC of trying to make use of political and institutional devices to frustrate the opposition slightly than confront it on the polls.
It additionally expressed concern over Justice Lifu’s involvement in one other controversial judgment regarding the ADC, recalling that his earlier resolution declaring the occasion deregistered was subsequently put aside by the Court of Appeal.
The Council additional alleged that there have been developments surrounding the proceedings, together with claims of stress and political interference, and known as for the safety of judicial independence and impartiality.
It maintained that no quantity of stress or intimidation might undermine the democratic aspirations of Nigerians who had embraced the ADC instead political platform.
The assertion reaffirmed that Senator Mark remained the occasion’s National Chairman, whereas Aregbesola remained its National Secretary.
It urged occasion candidates, members and supporters throughout the nation to stay calm and proceed their campaigns, insisting that there was no trigger for panic.
The Council additionally disclosed that its authorized group was taking steps to hunt acceptable interim aid, together with a keep of execution the place legally relevant, earlier than pursuing an enchantment in opposition to the judgment.
It known as on Nigerians to stay targeted on the defence of multiparty democracy, political pluralism and the constitutional proper of residents to freely select their leaders.
“The ADC is not distracted. The campaign continues. The struggle for a better Nigeria remains unstoppable,” the assertion added.
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