ADC moves to Supreme Court, insists Appeal Court verdict won’t affect 2027 candidates

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected Monday’s judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja concerning its party congresses, insisting that the ruling does not invalidate the direct primaries through which its candidates for the 2027 general elections emerged.

The party also announced that it has commenced legal proceedings at the Supreme Court to challenge the appellate court’s decision, maintaining that the judgment cannot derail its preparations for the forthcoming elections.

The position of the party was contained in a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, amid lingering legal battles over the ADC’s internal leadership structure and congresses.

Seeking to calm concerns among party members and supporters, the ADC maintained that the issues determined by the Court of Appeal relate strictly to its ward, local government and state congresses and have no bearing on the validity of its candidates.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) notes the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday in a matter relating to party congresses for the election of ward, local government and state executive committees of the Party.

“We wish to assure members of the Party and the general public that this judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the Party’s candidates have emerged at all levels.”

The party disclosed that it had already activated the legal process to overturn the ruling at the apex court, arguing that the appellate court failed to properly interpret the law governing the matter.

According to the statement, “The Party has already commenced the process of appealing the judgment, which we respectfully disagree with and consider to be legally unsustainable.

“We also note the dissenting judgment of the presiding Justice, which, in our view, more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the Party’s position.”

The ADC urged its members not to be distracted by the litigation, stressing that its mission of providing an alternative political platform for Nigerians remains unchanged.

It stated, “We urge all Party members and the millions of our supporters to remain calm, confident and focused.

“The African Democratic Congress remains committed to the task of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative and will continue to pursue that mission in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.”

The latest development is the newest chapter in the prolonged legal contest over the party’s congresses and leadership, with rival factions laying claim to the organisation’s structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Despite the disputes, the ADC has consistently maintained that its recognised National Executive Committee remains intact and that its direct primary elections complied fully with the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

The party’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of recent controversy over claims by a rival faction that it had uploaded candidates’ details to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s nomination portal.

However, both the ADC leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission have dismissed the claim, with the electoral body reiterating that it recognises only the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee and has not granted nomination portal access to any other faction.