By Ayodele Oni
Reactions have continued to trail Federal High Court FHC, Abuja judgement on Thursday which derecognized David Mark led executive of the National Democratic Congress, NDC.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo (SAN) has expressed satisfaction with the judgment.
“Justice may be slow, but it is always sure,” declared Keyamo.
Justice Peter Lifu, sitting in Abuja, delivered the ruling in the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, filed by the party’s former National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The Judge declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal and voided every decision made under its authority, including the nomination of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the former ADC National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was the rightful person to assume leadership of the party.
He asked the court to restrain Senator Mark and former Osun Governor
Rauf Aregbesola from holding themselves out as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, insisting their emergence violated both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
The defendants included the ADC, the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Mark, Aregbesola, and Nwosu. Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted all the reliefs sought.
Keyamo, a prominent cabinet member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the manner in which the party was allegedly seized could not be legally sustained.
“You cannot invade a political party owned and built by Nigerians and hijack it with the connivance of a so-called National Chairman without a prior meeting and approval of a mini National Convention or the National Executive Committee,” he said.
Furthermore, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain pushed back at those framing the judgment as a threat to democracy, insisting that the ADC’s original membership remained intact.
“It is not only when a certain Atiku Abubakar contests the presidency that democracy is not in danger. The ADC as a party is well and alive and populated by people and original leaders who are no less Nigerians than David Mark and his illegal band of marauders,” Keyamo added.
The minister also dismissed critics who labelled the outcome politically motivated.
“Sorry, but the law is decided on facts and evidence, rather than sentiments and outrage by a group of people,” he said.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement in its reaction, warned against allowing the leadership crisis in ADC, to undermine preparations for the 2027 general elections.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its spokesperson, Dr Habibu Saleh Mohammed.
According to the statement, the movement said the uncertainty surrounding the party’s leadership and candidate selection could affect opposition parties’ ability to organise and participate effectively in the elections.
The movement expressed concern that prolonged legal disputes over opposition party leadership could weaken Nigeria’s democratic space.
It said political parties should be allowed to strengthen their structures and prepare for credible elections without unnecessary uncertainty.
“The uncertainty surrounding the ADC’s leadership and nominations should not be allowed to translate into the disenfranchisement of party members, aspirants and millions of Nigerians who expect a competitive and credible electoral process in 2027.”
It called on the judiciary to uphold the principles of independence, fairness and transparency in handling political disputes, stressing that all parties must be given a fair hearing.
“The Federal Government must ensure that opposition parties are allowed to operate freely without interference from any government institution or agency,” the movement said.
On the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the movement called on the electoral body to remain neutral and follow the law and valid court orders in dealing with the ADC leadership dispute.
Meanwhile, former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has advised the ADC, to stop threatening the country with fire and brimstone over the nullification of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
In a post on his verified X handle, Sani urged the ADC to take its case to the Appeal Court, adding that the party brought the crisis on itself when it took over a troubled party instead of registering a new one.
“The ADC should get ready to appeal their case instead of threatening the country with brimstone and fire. This is the price they have to pay for taking over a troubled party instead of registering a new one,” Sani said.
Sani was reacting to the statement by the ADC after the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked the David Mark-led leadership of the party and voided Atiku’s presidential ticket for 2027.
In its statement, the ADC had warned the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, not to play with fire. The party said the judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu barely 24 hours after the massive turnout at the ADC presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, showed the desperation of the APC.
Sani said that kind of language will not save the ADC in court. He said threats will not change a judgment. Only an appeal will.
According to him, the coalition leaders knew the ADC had leadership problems before they adopted it. He said instead of going to INEC to register a fresh party with a clean constitution and clean leadership, they chose to hijack a party that already had factions and court cases.
“They saw the trouble in the ADC. They entered it with their eyes open. Now the trouble has caught up with them.”
Sani recalled that the coalition, made up of Atiku, David Mark, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola and others, settled on the ADC as its platform rather than establishing a new political party.
He urged the ADC to stop dragging the country into its internal fight, stating that Nigeria is bigger than Atiku, Mark and any party’s ambition.
Sani insisted that the appeal is the right road, saying the courtroom, not threats, will decide if Atiku remains on the ballot for 2027.
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