Appeal Court Ruling: Our Leadership Still Intact – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the Court of Appeal ruling in the ongoing leadership dispute within the party didn’t change its current leadership.

It also urged members and the public to disregard misleading interpretations of the judgment, a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said.

Abdullahi said the appellate court dismissed the appeal on procedural grounds and did not issue any order affecting the positions of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

He stated this while reacting to reports concerning the recent decision of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria in an appeal filed by the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, in connection with the ongoing suit instituted against the party leadership at the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

“Having carefully studied the judgment, we wish to state unequivocally that the Court of Appeal did not determine the substantive dispute regarding the leadership of the ADC.

“The case challenging the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary is still pending before the Federal High Court and has not yet been heard or decided on its merits.

“Importantly, the Court of Appeal did not grant any relief in favour of the plaintiff, nor did it issue any order affecting the leadership structure of the party.

“On the contrary, the court ordered that parties should maintain the status quo, meaning that the current state of affairs within the party should remain unchanged pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

He advised ADC members not to panic or be misled by misinterpretations of the judgment, adding that the ruling of the Court of Appeal is purely procedural and does not affect the legitimacy or tenure of the current national leadership of the party.

He said the party remains united and focused despite the antics of anti-democratic forces bent on imposing a one-party rule on Nigeria.

End.