By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has petitioned the National Judicial Council, NJC, seeking to stop Honourable Justice Peter Lifu from adjudicating matters relating to the party.
The ADC’s position is coming against the backdrop of Justice Lifu’s controversial ruling on Monday June 15, 2026, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to deregister five political parties, including the ADC over perceived failure to meet electoral performance requirements for political parties.
Barely 24 hours after the deregistration verdict, Justice Lifu; on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, declined to recuse himself from the case involving the leadership tussle between the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee NEC, and the party’s erstwhile Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala-Gombe.
Ruling on the application filed by Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary on behalf of the Mark-led ADC NEC demanding his recusal, Justice Lifu held that there were no justifiable and cogent reasons for him to recuse himself from the matter.
Justice Lifu has since fixed June 23, 2026, date for the commencement of accelerated hearing of the motion on notice filed by Bala-Gombe challenging the emergence of Senator Mark and his ADC NEC.
But in a petition dated June 18, 2026, addressed to the Executive Secretary, National Judicial Council, NJC, and signed by its National Youth Leader Comrade Balarabe Rufai, the National Youth Wing of the party,demanded the removal of Justice Lifu” from any, and all adjudicatory matters, reviews, or decision-making roles concerning the ADC”
Addressing the media at the ADC National Headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Comrade Ibrahim Garba Wala, who stood in for the National Youth Leader informed that following concerted efforts by the authorities to frustrate the presentation of the petition to the NJC, the party decided to make the matter a public issue.
According to him, all the roads leading to, and from the NJC Abuja Headquarters were barricaded by hordes of stern-looking and heavily armed security personnel.
“We demand the immediate and total removal of Hon Justice Peter Odo Lifu from any, and all adjudicatory matters, reviews, or decision-making roles concerning the ADC.
” Furthermore, given what we perceive as a pattern of judicial misconduct, we demand that the National Judicial Council recommend his dismissal from the Judiciary in order to preserve the credibility of the bench” Rufai stated.
According to the ADC Youth Wing, Justice Lifu’s ruling on the motion on notice filed by Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the deregistration of some political parties was politically motivated, heavily manipulated, and compromised with the ultimate aim of stifling opposition parties in the country.
The party cited the decision of the presiding Judge to go ahead with delivering the judgment despite a subsisting Court of Appeal order staying proceedings, as an eloquent testimony to his bias and compromised disposition.
The ADC Youth Wing equally accused Justice Lifu of aiding and abetting the plaintiffs in the alteration of their status during proceedings without the requisite court order.
Comrade Rufai also referred to what he described as an avalanche of petitions against Justice Lifu from other aggrieved members of the public as an additional reason why the NJC should seriously consider the option of doing away with him before he will completely erode public trust and confidence in the bench.
“We cannot watch the political rights of millions of young Nigerians be auctioned off by compromised benches.
“The continued involvement of Justice Lifu in ADC-related matters undermines public and raises concerns about fair hearing”, the party added.
This was as it vowed to continue with its protest until the NJC acts to protect institutional integrity, enforce discipline, as well as recuse Justice Lifu from all matters involving the ADC.
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