Sokoto rally triggered court sacking of Mark’s leadership sack — ADC

• Vows legal challenge

By Myke Uzendu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to weaken the opposition following a judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which the party said purportedly invalidated the leadership of Senator David Mark and the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The opposition party alleged that the timing of the judgment, delivered barely 24 hours after its presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, was intended to undermine its growing political support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the judgment as an attempt to deny Nigerians the opportunity to freely choose their leaders.

The party claimed that the ruling was triggered by the massive turnout at its Sokoto rally, where supporters gathered to demonstrate their backing for the party and its promise to make life more affordable.

“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,” the statement said.

The ADC expressed concern that the judgment could affect the political rights of thousands of its candidates seeking elective offices at the local, state and federal levels.

It argued that the dispute went beyond the political fortunes of Atiku Abubakar and David Mark, insisting that the fundamental issue was the right of Nigerians to participate in a democratic process and elect their preferred leaders.

“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 said.

The party described the judgment as legally indefensible and vowed to challenge it through all available judicial channels.

It cited an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which it said affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership.

According to the ADC, a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot review, vary or nullify a subsisting judgment delivered by another court of equal jurisdiction.

The party, however, said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the latest judgment to establish its precise terms, scope and consequential orders before determining its next legal steps.

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