Lifu judgment: ADC accuses APC of using courts to weaken opposition

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of attempting to destabilise Nigeria by using judicial controversies to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The opposition party said the Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, which reportedly nullified the leadership of Senator David Mark and the candidacy of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, was part of an attempt to frustrate its growing political influence.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC linked the timing of the judgment to the large turnout at its presidential campaign rally in Sokoto on Wednesday.

The party alleged that the ruling, coming barely 24 hours after the rally, exposed the ruling party's anxiety over the growing support for the opposition.

“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 argued that the dispute extended beyond Atiku and Mark, warning that the judgment could affect thousands of its candidates seeking elective positions at local, state and federal levels.

“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,” the party said.

It also questioned the legal basis of the judgment, citing an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court on July 2, 2026, which affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the leadership.

The party argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction could not overturn or nullify the subsisting decision of another court of equal jurisdiction.

It, however, said it was awaiting the certified true copy of Justice Lifu's judgment to establish its precise terms and consequential orders.

The ADC vowed to challenge the decision through available judicial channels, while accusing the APC of deploying the courts to frustrate opposition activities whenever it felt threatened politically.

Warning against further political interference, the party said attempts to eliminate competition could endanger national stability.

“We warn the APC: do not play with fires you cannot control. The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party,” it said.

The party also challenged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to test their popularity through free and fair elections rather than allegedly seeking to weaken their opponents.

“If the President thinks he has performed well in office, why is he afraid of competition? If the APC thinks that its policies and candidates are popular, why don't they subject themselves to free and fair elections?” it asked.

The ADC called on the judiciary to protect its independence and urged members of the party nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while its lawyers pursue legal remedies.