Unbowed By Court Ruling, ADC Candidates Vow To Stay In 2027 Race

*By ADEMU IDAKWO, Abuja; ATTAH ANTHONY, Jalingo; SOLA OJO AND NONYE EKWENUGO, Kaduna; ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos; ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin; NNAMDI MBAWIKE, Enugu; EMMANUEL MGBEAHURIKE, Owerri; ABU NMODU, Minna; ALO ABIOLA, Ado-Ekiti; DAMILOLA ORGIBEMISUYI, Akure; FELIX IGBEKOYI, Asaba; AND AHMED TAHIR, Lafia

Candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) across the country have declared that they remain undeterred by the Federal High Court judgment affecting the party’s national leadership, insisting that they will continue their campaigns and participate in the 2027 general elections.

The position came as the party’s national leadership, led by Senator David Mark, appealed the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and filed an application for a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.

The party also formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the legal steps taken, urging the commission to suspend further action on the matter until the appellate court determines the dispute.

In a statement issued on Friday by the director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, the party said it had filed a notice of appeal against the November 5 judgment, alongside an application for a stay of execution.

The party’s lawyers, led by Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, SAN, also wrote to the INEC chairman on November 6, informing the commission of the appeal and the application for a stay of execution.

The ADC urged INEC to exercise restraint and avoid taking any consequential action that could prejudice the outcome of the appeal. It added that its application for a stay of execution was yet to be determined by the Federal High Court.

In a separate statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party rejected the judgment, describing it as a threat to opposition politics and the democratic rights of Nigerians.

It also questioned the timing of the judgment, delivered barely 24 hours after its presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, alleging that the ruling could weaken opposition mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Justice Lifu had, in his judgment, nullified the emergence of the David Mark-led leadership, including Mark’s emergence as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola’s as national secretary.

The suit was filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party for the North-East, who argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership following the resignation of former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

The court held that the process through which the Mark-led leadership emerged violated the party’s constitution and guidelines. It consequently nullified the actions and decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the party’s congresses and convention, as well as the process that produced its candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The ruling also affected the presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate and directed INEC not to recognise decisions taken by the disputed leadership.

However, the ADC said it was exercising its lawful right to challenge the decision, insisting that the legal process should be allowed to run its course.

Candidates and party chieftains who spoke from different states expressed confidence that the party would overcome the legal dispute. Some maintained that their campaigns would continue despite the uncertainty surrounding the leadership crisis.

In Taraba State, the ADC chairman, Adamu Hassan Mohammed, called on party members to remain calm, insisting that the Supreme Court had recognised the David Mark-led leadership.

In a voice message obtained by our correspondent, Mohammed argued that the judgment of the Supreme Court should take precedence over the decision of a lower court.

“The Supreme Court is the highest court in Nigeria. Its judgment is final. We are considering that as the authentic position of the law,” he said.

He maintained that another court of coordinate jurisdiction could not sit on appeal over the judgment of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Liman.

Mohammed also expressed optimism that INEC would recognise the Mark-led National Working Committee.

Efforts to reach the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris, for comments were unsuccessful.

In Kaduna State, the governorship ambition of the ADC candidate, Isah Ashiru, remains intact despite the development.

Ashiru’s spokesman, Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, said the party’s national leadership was handling the legal dispute and expressed confidence that it would be resolved.

Also speaking with our correspondent, the ADC House of Assembly candidate for Kagarko Constituency, Darius Kurah, described the judgment as a distraction, saying candidates were already campaigning and would remain in the race.

He said whoever eventually emerged as the party’s recognised leader would adopt the candidates already produced by the party.

 

The acting REC in the state, Abba Yahaya, could not be reached for comments.

 

In Plateau State, the head of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council’s Mandate Protection Directorate and the party’s senatorial candidate for Plateau South, Barrister Solomon Selcap Dalung, said the party would not abandon its political activities because of the judgment.

 

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, Dalung argued that the judge exceeded his jurisdiction, adding that the party had filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution.

 

He described the judgment as a “mischief judgment intended to discourage Nigerians” from supporting the party but insisted that the ADC would continue its campaign.

 

The party’s publicity secretary in the state, Silas Wettok, also confirmed that an appeal and an application for a stay of execution had been filed.

 

He said the party would not be distracted, declaring: “A luta continua, vitória é certa.”

 

Efforts to reach the ADC governorship candidate in the state, General John Sura (rtd), and the REC, Professor Sam Egwu, were unsuccessful.

 

In Kwara State, the ADC governorship candidate, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, said there was no cause for alarm, expressing confidence that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other candidates would be on the ballot.

 

Speaking with our correspondent, Mohammed described the ruling as immaterial to the party’s political ambition, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was unsettled by the growing support for the ADC.

 

“It’s immaterial. The ruling party is jittery as Nigerians are resonating with the ADC’s messages,” he said.

 

He said the ADC was offering Nigerians an alternative, including a commitment to restore fuel subsidy and explore other options to address the country’s economic challenges.

 

In Enugu State, the ADC candidate for Enugu North/Udenu Federal Constituency, High Chief Benjamin Eze, said he was not worried about the judgment, alleging that the government was using the judiciary to weaken opposition parties.

 

He expressed the belief that the judgment would not stand, insisting that the party would continue its political activities.

 

The state secretary of the party, A.C. Udeh, also said the ADC was not disturbed by the development, arguing that the Supreme Court had earlier ruled on the party’s leadership dispute.

 

He said the party’s campaigns would continue despite the court decision.

 

Efforts to reach the REC in the state, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, for comments were unsuccessful.

 

In Imo State, the ADC chairman, Professor James Okoroma, said the party had no cause for alarm, adding that its candidates remained confident of participating in the 2027 elections.

 

He said the party’s leadership had appealed the judgment, explaining that the candidates emerged from primaries conducted by the Mark-led National Working Committee before the Abuja court nullified the process.

 

Speaking with our correspondent, Okoroma said the party would continue to pursue its legal options while keeping its political structures active.

 

The REC in the state, Barrister Chukwuemeka Ibejiako, said INEC headquarters had not issued any directive to delist the party or its candidates.

 

He said the final list published on October 31 remained in place pending further directives from the commission’s headquarters.

 

The ADC senatorial candidate for Imo East, Uchenna Ofoegbu, and its candidate for Okigwe South Federal Constituency, Hon. Chukwudi Nwolokoro, also said they would continue their campaigns.

 

In Niger State, the party’s Deputy Director of Media, Samson Alfa, who spoke on behalf of the governorship candidate, Dr Mohammed Kpautagi, said the candidates were not deterred by the judgment.

 

He argued that the development could instead attract sympathy for the party, alleging that the ruling APC was seeking to deny Nigerians an alternative political choice.

 

Alfa said the ADC remained committed to its political activities and would not allow the court dispute to derail its preparations for the elections.

 

In Ekiti State, former Deputy Governor and ADC chieftain, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka, said the party’s candidates were not shaken by the judgment.

 

He expressed confidence in the party’s legal position, claiming that the Supreme Court had affirmed the leadership of Senator David Mark.

 

An INEC official in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commission had not received any directive from its headquarters to take further action on the party.

 

In Ondo State, the David Mark-led faction’s publicity representative, Olurotimi Eniola, described the judgment as an attempt to distract the party from its preparations for the 2027 elections.

 

He said the ADC would continue its campaign for Atiku Abubakar and other candidates, insisting that the party’s leadership remained confident of securing favourable outcomes from the legal process.

 

The party’s House of Assembly candidate for Akure South Constituency One, Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi, also described the judgment as a “kangaroo” decision.

 

He argued that another High Court had previously upheld the Mark-led leadership, adding that the party had filed an appeal and obtained a stay of execution.

 

Oluwarotimi further claimed that Bala Gombe Nafiu had resigned as deputy national chairman and that his resignation letter was before the court.

 

In Delta State, the ADC governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, urged party members to remain calm, insisting that the judgment would not affect his candidacy.

 

He argued that the Supreme Court’s decision should take precedence over the judgment of a lower court.

 

The party’s publicity secretary in the state, Fred Akpevwe, described the suit instituted by Nafiu Gombe as “forum shopping”.

 

Akpevwe also alleged that the litigation was being pursued to justify money allegedly spent on the process, maintaining that Mark remained the authentic leader of the party and Ogboru its governorship candidate.

 

However, a source at INEC in Asaba said the commission’s portal did not show an authentic ADC governorship candidate, warning that anyone parading himself as the party’s candidate could be regarded as an impersonator.

 

In Nasarawa State, a member of the ADC National Working Committee and former Minister of State for Justice, Musa Elayo, said the judgment affecting the party’s national leadership would not remove its candidates from the ballot.

 

Speaking with our correspondent, Elayo argued that the candidates were not parties to the suit and should not be affected by the decision.

 

He said the party had applied for a stay of execution and would appeal the judgment up to the Supreme Court, insisting that the ADC remained committed to the electoral process.

 

Elayo, however, acknowledged a separate court judgment which nullified the nomination of retired Major General Nuhu Angbazo as the party’s candidate in Nasarawa State over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the governorship primary.

 

The case was instituted by former Minister of Environment, Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, who is also associated with the party’s senatorial candidate, Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo.

 

The court reportedly ordered a rerun of the primary in 11 wards of Karu Local Government Area within 14 days and restrained INEC from recognising Angbazo pending compliance with the order.

 

Elayo said the party would challenge the broader implications of the judgment, explaining that the dispute arose from the conduct of the primary in Karu.

 

According to him, the returning officer for Karu left the venue after reporting threats to his life, while some individuals later presented results from the area, including figures showing about 10,000 votes for Hassan.

 

He said the results were rejected by the party’s National Secretary, Solomon Dalung, and that the party proceeded with the primary results from 12 of the state’s 13 local government areas under the principle of substantial compliance.

 

Elayo maintained that the results from the other local government areas were collated and a winner declared, adding that the party would pursue its appeal against the court decision.

 

He also alleged that the APC-led government was making efforts to suppress opposition parties but said the ADC would continue to campaign on what it described as the government’s failures.

 

Despite the appeal filed by the national leadership and the differing legal interpretations of the judgment, ADC candidates and chieftains across the states maintained that they would not abandon their political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.