Mark-Led ADC Hails Supreme Court, Reiterates Call For Amupitan’s Resignation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirming David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, describing the decision as a validation of its leadership and a rebuke of earlier actions by the electoral body.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the judgment reinforces the primacy of the rule of law and justifies its confidence in the judiciary. It added that the decision confirms that the move to de-recognise the Mark-led leadership was “fundamentally faulty.”

The party commended the five-member panel of the apex court for what it described as a unanimous judgment that has strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s judicial system.

“Today’s decision is a clear and unequivocal affirmation that our party, its structures, and its leadership… are legitimate,” the statement said, adding that the ruling “lays to rest all contrived disputes and manufactured uncertainties.”

Despite welcoming the verdict, the ADC warned that the circumstances leading to the case revealed “a troubling pattern of interference” aimed at weakening opposition voices. It maintained that it would not be “intimidated, distracted, or silenced” in its efforts to provide Nigerians with an alternative political platform focused on security, cost of living, and job creation.

The party urged its members and democratic stakeholders to remain vigilant, stressing that “democracy is not defended in a single courtroom victory, it is sustained through constant vigilance.”

Significantly, the ADC renewed its call for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, arguing that the issues highlighted by the case have raised serious concerns about the impartiality of the office.

“The circumstances… point to either a grave failure of judgment or a deliberate act of bad faith,” the party said, insisting that Nigeria “cannot afford an electoral umpire whose actions raise legitimate questions about neutrality.”

The party also called on INEC to immediately restore recognition of the Mark-led leadership across its official platforms and communications.

Reaffirming its stance, the ADC said it would continue to defend democratic principles and the rule of law while positioning itself as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape.