Lifu Judgment Academic, Overtaken By Events – ADC PCC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has described the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to nullify the leadership of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as well as void the nomination of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as an academic exercise that has been overtaken by events.

The Council said its legal team was prepared to challenge the ruling at the appropriate appellate court, insisting that the judgment could not override an existing decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction on the same subject matter.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC PCC recalled that Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had earlier examined the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola and ruled that the transfer of leadership from Chief Ralph Nwosu to Senator Mark did not violate the party’s constitution.

According to the Council, Justice Liman had acknowledged that the disputed July 2, 2025 meeting was a stakeholders’ meeting preceding the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of July 29, 2025, where Mark and Aregbesola emerged as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

It added that the NEC meeting was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The ADC PCC argued that the earlier judgment had already addressed the party’s leadership question, insisting that a subsequent ruling could not simply displace an existing judicial decision without regard to established legal principles.

It consequently described Thursday’s judgment as an exercise in futility, saying the party’s legal team was taking immediate steps to challenge the decision through appropriate judicial channels.

Beyond the legal issues, the Council questioned the timing of the judgment, linking it to the recent political activities of the ADC and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It alleged that the ruling came against the backdrop of what it described as the failed APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna and the successful ADC presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto.

The Council claimed that the growing national acceptance of the ADC had unsettled the ruling party, accusing the APC of attempting to use political and institutional instruments to frustrate the opposition rather than confront it at the polls.

It also expressed concern over Justice Lifu’s involvement in another controversial judgment concerning the ADC, recalling that his earlier decision declaring the party deregistered was subsequently set aside by the Court of Appeal.

The Council further alleged that there were developments surrounding the proceedings, including claims of pressure and political interference, and called for the protection of judicial independence and impartiality.

It maintained that no amount of pressure or intimidation could undermine the democratic aspirations of Nigerians who had embraced the ADC as an alternative political platform.

The statement reaffirmed that Senator Mark remained the party’s National Chairman, while Aregbesola remained its National Secretary.

It urged party candidates, members and supporters across the country to remain calm and continue their campaigns, insisting that there was no cause for panic.

The Council also disclosed that its legal team was taking steps to seek appropriate interim relief, including a stay of execution where legally applicable, before pursuing an appeal against the judgment.

It called on Nigerians to remain focused on the defence of multiparty democracy, political pluralism and the constitutional right of citizens to freely choose their leaders.

“The ADC is not distracted. The campaign continues. The struggle for a better Nigeria remains unstoppable,” the statement added.