The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee and invalidated the presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the opposition party described the ruling as legally indefensible and accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating judicial interference to cripple political competition.
The court’s decision followed a suit instituted by a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the legitimacy of the process through which Mark’s leadership emerged and invalidating actions taken since the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting.
Abdullahi contended that the timing of the ruling—delivered less than 24 hours after the massive turnout at the ADC presidential campaign launch in Sokoto State on Wednesday, November 4—exposed growing panic within the ruling party.
“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,” Abdullahi stated.
Citing a prior Federal High Court ruling delivered on July 2, 2026, which affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize it, the ADC warned that Justice Lifu’s orders threaten the democratic rights of Nigerians and could disenfranchise thousands of candidates contesting local, state, and federal seats.
“This is not about Atiku Abubakar or David Mark. It is about the democratic rights of Nigerians to freely choose their own leaders,” the statement added, noting that the party is awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to initiate an immediate appeal.
The ADC urged its members and supporters nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while its legal team challenges the ruling through all available appellate processes.
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