The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has questioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over a court judgment that has thrown its leadership and Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ambition into uncertainty.
The opposition party has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to frustrate its political ambitions after a Federal High Court ruling affected its leadership and Atiku’s chances of contesting under its platform.
According to Daily Post, the ADC believes the development is part of an attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the next general election. The controversy started after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment removing the David Mark-led leadership of the party.
The court also nullified decisions taken by the leadership, including Atiku’s emergence as the ADC’s presidential candidate. However, the party is questioning why the judgment came at this particular time.
In a statement released on Thursday, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, pointed out that the ruling came barely a day after the party held a presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State. The rally reportedly attracted a large crowd of supporters.
For the ADC, the timing raises questions about what is happening behind the scenes. The party suggested that its growing political activities may have become uncomfortable for those in power. But the party says this is not just about Atiku or David Mark.
According to the ADC, the judgment could also affect thousands of its members who hope to contest for different political positions in 2027. The party also questioned how the latest decision could stand alongside an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman on July 2, 2026.
It claimed that the earlier judgment recognised the David Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise its leadership.
The ADC argued that one Federal High Court judge cannot simply overturn a decision delivered by another judge of the same level. It described the latest ruling as legally indefensible and said it would challenge the decision in court. The party, however, disclosed that it was still waiting to receive the Certified True Copy of the judgment before deciding on its next legal steps.
The ADC did not stop there. It also accused the APC of using the judiciary to frustrate opposition parties whenever they begin gaining political support. The party warned that Nigeria’s democracy could suffer if opposition groups were prevented from freely participating in elections.
It also challenged President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party to allow Nigerians to decide who deserves their votes in 2027. In a rather pointed message, the ADC questioned why a party confident in its popularity would be uncomfortable with having political opponents.
The party maintained that winning an election should depend on convincing voters, not making it difficult for other parties to participate. With the 2027 elections approaching, the disagreement adds another controversy to Nigeria’s already heated political atmosphere.
For now, the ADC says it is prepared to challenge the ruling, while the legal battle over its leadership and Atiku’s candidacy remains a major issue ahead of the next election.
Elom Fortunate Chiemerie is junior staff at modern crux that covers news on international politics, sports news and entertainment News
