ADC Candidates Petition CJN Over Delay In Release Of Lifu’s Judgment

The Forum of ADC Candidates in Nigeria has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, over the alleged delay by the Federal High Court in Abuja to release the Certified True Copy (CTC) of its judgment on the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a petition dated November 10, 2026, the forum urged the Chief Justice to intervene and direct the immediate release of the judgment delivered on November 5 by Justice Peter O. Lifu in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, involving Nafiu Bala Gombe against the ADC and others.

The judgment reportedly nullified the emergence of Senator David Mark as the party’s National Chairman and invalidated actions taken under his leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The forum’s spokesperson, Frank Edede, said the group disagreed with the ruling and intended to challenge it at the Court of Appeal but expressed concern that the certified copy had yet to be released despite an immediate application by its counsel and payment of the prescribed fees.

According to the petition, five days after the judgment was delivered, the court registry had not released the document despite repeated visits by the lawyers.

The forum alleged that the delay was particularly troubling because the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the judgment, even though the affected parties had yet to obtain its certified copy.

It argued that the delay was undermining its constitutional right to appeal under Sections 241 and 242 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, insisting that the absence of the certified judgment was preventing it from filing a competent notice of appeal.

The group warned that withholding the judgment until relevant electoral deadlines had elapsed could render its right of appeal meaningless and undermine democratic participation.

It therefore appealed to the Chief Justice to direct the court registry to release the Certified True Copy within 24 hours, preferably on or before November 11, 2026.

The forum also disclosed that its support groups and concerned ADC members planned to stage a peaceful protest at the Federal High Court premises in Abuja by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, to demand the release of the judgment.

The petition was copied to the President of the Court of Appeal, the National Judicial Council, the INEC National Chairman, the Nigerian Bar Association, its Abuja branch, and the Inspector-General of Police.