Nullified nominations: ADC group accuses cof delaying appeal

African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidates seeking to contest the 2027 general elections have accused the Federal High Court registry in Abuja of delaying the release of a judgment that nullified their nominations, warning that the delay could undermine their constitutional right to appeal.

The candidates, under the Forum of ADC Candidates, staged a protest at the court's headquarters on Wednesday, demanding the immediate release of the certified true copy of the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on November 5.

The protesters, who arrived at about 9am, carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Release the CTC of Peter Lifu's Judgment Without Further Delay” and chanted, “Tinubu and Justice Lifu must go.”
In a petition dated November 10 and addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, the group alleged that its lawyers applied for the certified true copy immediately after the judgment and paid the required fees.
It, however, claimed that the document had not been released five days after the ruling despite repeated visits to the court registry.

“As at today, 10th November, 2026, five (5) days after judgment, the CTC has NOT been released to us,” the petition stated.
“Our lawyers have visited the Registry daily to no avail without any lawful explanation.”
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe against the ADC and others. It nullified the emergence of David Mark as the party's national chairman and the actions taken under his leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections.

Speaking during the protest, a former acting ADC chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, Yusuf Tijani, said the party's candidates needed the document to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
He questioned the judgment, claiming that the Supreme Court had already affirmed Mark's leadership of the party.

Tijani also urged the National Judicial Council to intervene and ensure the release of the certified copy.
“This is not a jungle. This is a country that has laws, that has rules, and we have to follow the Constitution of the country,” he said.
The forum further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission to implement the judgment despite the failure to release the certified copy.

“Meanwhile, we have credible information that the ruling party, APC, is pressuring INEC to implement the judgment immediately, using the same judgment we have not been given,” the petition alleged.
The APC has consistently denied interfering in the affairs of opposition parties or the judiciary.

Describing the delay as an attempt to frustrate its legal options, the ADC candidates insisted that they could not exercise their right of appeal without access to the judgment.
“We disagree with the judgement. We have a constitutional right to appeal it. But we cannot appeal what we do not have,” the petition stated.

The group argued that withholding the document violated Section 294(1) of the Constitution, which provides for the delivery of court decisions in writing and the availability of copies to parties.
“A judgement that is delivered but its CTC is withheld is a judgement that cannot be challenged. That is not justice,” it added.
Citing Sections 241 and 242 of the Constitution, the forum said the right to appeal could become meaningless if the document was withheld beyond the period available for challenging the decision.

If a party can obtain a judgment against the opposition on Thursday, and the CTC is withheld until the election timetable closes, then the right of appeal becomes a mere illusion,” the petition stated.
“Democracy dies not by coup, but by Registry delay.”
The petition, signed by Audu Aliyu on behalf of the forum, asked the Chief Judge to direct the registrar to release the certified copy within 24 hours, specifically requesting that it be made available to their lawyer on or before November 11.

The candidates said their protest was not directed against the judiciary but was intended to secure access to the document and pursue an appeal.

“We are not coming to protest against the Judiciary. We are coming to demand our CTC so we can go to the Court of Appeal, where the law says we should,” the petition stated.

Meanwhile, INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan had said the commission was yet to receive the certified true copy of the judgment and would not act on reports circulating on social media.
“As of today, I have not received a Certified True Copy of the judgement of the Federal High Court because we don't just act on the basis of what is on social media,” Amupitan said.

He explained that the document would first be examined by the commission's relevant department before being presented for consideration.