The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have resolved to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal which yesterday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the state congresses conducted by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party.
The ADC and Atiku expressed the decision in separate statements while reacting to the Appeal Court’s judgement.
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, affirmed the judgement of the Federal High Court restraining the INEC from recognising or participating in the state congresses conducted by a committee appointed by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership.
The appellate court dismissed the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/608/2026, affirming the April 29 judgement of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, which barred the caretaker leadership from interfering with the tenure and functions of the party’s elected state executive committees.
The ADC, in a swift reaction, said it had commenced the process of appealing the judgement, “which we respectfully disagree with and consider to be legally unsustainable.”
In the statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the dissenting judgement of the presiding Justice “more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the party’s position.”
Atiku, in a statement by his media adviser, Phrank Shuaibu, said he had instructed his legal team to approach the Supreme Court for a definitive determination of the issues arising from the judgement.
He said that is the proper constitutional path while affirming absolute confidence in the judicial process.
“Let no supporter of the ADC lose sleep. Let no Nigerian who believes in the restoration of our country be discouraged. The struggle to rescue Nigeria has never been about one courtroom or one judgement. It is a movement born out of the collective desire of millions of Nigerians for competent leadership, economic recovery, national unity and the restoration of hope.
“We, therefore, urge our members across the federation to remain calm, united and focused. Stay committed to the mission. Continue mobilising. Continue organising. Continue believing. No amount of legal gymnastics or political spin can extinguish the legitimate aspirations of Nigerians for a better country,” he stated.
