The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has insisted that it will participate in the 2027 general election despite a Federal High Court judgment invalidating its David Mark-led caretaker committee and decisions taken by the leadership.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, gave the assurance on Friday during an interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT).
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on Thursday, declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala, a former national deputy chairman of the party.
The judge also invalidated decisions taken by the caretaker committee, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
However, Abdullahi said the judgment would not stop the ADC from continuing its campaign activities.
He questioned the ruling, arguing that it conflicted with an earlier judgment delivered by another judge of the same court.
On July 2, Justice Musa Liman had dismissed a suit challenging the Mark-led leadership, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the party.
Abdullahi said the earlier judgment had neither been appealed nor set aside.
“The July 2 judgment by Justice Liman had not been appealed. It has not been vacated. So, if you ask us as a party, the question we would ask ourselves is: which of the two courts should we obey?” he said.
He maintained that the ADC would remain active and contest the next general election.
“We will contest the 2027 election. If there will be an election in Nigeria in 2027, the ADC will contest that election. The ADC will be on the ballot,” he said.
“The thing is that we will never demobilise. We are a party, a coalition that was birthed in adversity.”
Abdullahi said the party had spent more time dealing with court cases than building its structures since the coalition was announced.
The ADC spokesman also accused the Federal Government of orchestrating the legal challenges against the party.
He alleged that the latest case was brought forward following the party’s recent campaign in Sokoto.
“The government can continue to play Pontius Pilate and say it knows nothing about it, that it is just about the law. But they are behind it. They orchestrated it,” he said.
Abdullahi also recalled the party’s previous dispute with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying it had remained undeterred despite earlier challenges to its participation in elections.
