By Ade Oyeyemi
The African Democratic Congress has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of attempting to weaken the opposition through judicial interventions following a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja affecting its leadership and the political standing of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The party described the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu as a desperate attempt to undermine its political structure and deprive Nigerians of the opportunity to freely choose their leaders in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that the timing of the ruling, coming barely 24 hours after its presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, suggested that the development was triggered by the growing popularity of the opposition party.
The party claimed that the massive turnout at the rally had unsettled the APC, alleging that the judgment was intended to frustrate its political activities and weaken its chances ahead of the elections.
“We have reasons to believe that the judgment had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the statement partly read.
The ADC further argued that the ruling could have wider implications beyond its national leadership, warning that thousands of its candidates seeking elective positions at the local, state and federal levels could be affected.
It maintained that the judgment was legally questionable, citing an earlier ruling delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
According to the party, the earlier judgment affirmed the legitimacy of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the leadership.
The ADC argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction lacked the authority to review, vary or set aside the subsisting decision of another court of equal jurisdiction.
It, however, said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the latest judgment to establish its exact terms, scope and consequential orders, adding that it would challenge the decision through all available legal channels.
The opposition party also accused the APC of exploiting judicial controversies to frustrate political opponents whenever they appeared to be gaining public support.
Warning against what it described as an attempt to eliminate political competition, the ADC said the development could threaten the country’s peace and democratic stability.
The party challenged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to subject themselves to a free and fair electoral contest if they were confident in their performance and popularity among Nigerians.
It also appealed to the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to undermine democratic institutions, insisting that the dispute was bigger than the ADC or Atiku.
The party urged its members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while its leadership pursued the available legal options to challenge the judgment.
