The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to appeal the Federal High Court judgment that nullified its National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The party rejected the ruling, describing it as a threat to democratic rights and political participation, while accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to weaken the opposition ahead of the next general elections.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the party's position known in a statement issued on Thursday.
In the statement, titled, ‘Lifu Judgment: APC Wants to Set Nigeria on Fire’, the party warned that the judgment could affect thousands of its members seeking elective offices across the country.
It argued that the decision went beyond the political fortunes of Atiku and Mark, insisting that it had broader implications for the rights of Nigerians to participate in the electoral process and freely choose their leaders.
The party recalled that thousands of Nigerians had recently demonstrated support for its political platform and expressed concern that the court ruling could undermine the confidence of its supporters.
“Yesterday, Nigerians came out in their hundreds of thousands to demonstrate their support for the ADC and our promise of making life affordable for them.
“Today, they are being told that the party that they support and the candidates that they have supported at all levels could be erased by the stroke of a reckless judicial pen,” it said.
The opposition party also questioned the timing of the judgment, alleging that it came at a critical period when political activities were gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Do these people understand what they are playing with? This is not about Atiku Abubakar or David Mark. It is about the democratic rights of Nigerians to freely choose their own leaders. It is about the rights of thousands of candidates to participate in a democratic process,” Abdullahi stated.
In challenging the ruling, the ADC relied on an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 2, 2026, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
According to the party, the earlier judgment recognised the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise its leadership.
It argued that Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the latest judgment, lacked the jurisdiction to overturn a subsisting decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
The statement said, “It is a settled principle of Nigerian jurisprudence that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction.”
The ADC consequently rejected any consequential orders arising from Thursday's ruling, which it described as inconsistent with established legal principles.
However, the party said it was waiting for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment to establish the exact orders made by the court and determine the appropriate legal steps.
It accused unnamed political interests of deploying judicial institutions against opposition parties whenever they perceived a threat to their hold on power.
“We have seen this script before. When they are scared that the opposition is gathering steam, they use their judges in the courts to influence legally indefensible judgments,” it alleged.
The party also called on the judiciary to remain independent and protect the country's democratic institutions, warning that political desperation could undermine national stability.
Taking aim at the APC, the ADC said the presidency should not be treated as the inheritance of any political party or individual.
“Nigeria belongs to Nigerians, not to the APC. The presidency is not an inheritance. If the President thinks he has performed well in office, why is he afraid of competition?” it asked.
The party added that the consequences of the judgment could extend beyond its immediate leadership dispute, urging Nigerians to defend democratic participation.
“This is not just about the ADC or Atiku Abubakar; it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” it said.
It appealed to its members and supporters nationwide to remain peaceful and law-abiding as it pursued judicial remedies.
Earlier on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, nullified the leadership of the ADC National Working Committee headed by Mark and invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the process that produced Atiku as the party's presidential candidate.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership contravened the party's constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also ordered INEC not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the ADC's 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), counsel to the plaintiff, said the judgment nullified all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership since July 2025.
Another counsel, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the ruling effectively left the party without candidates for the 2027 presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections.
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