ADC Takes David Mark’s Leadership Dispute to NJC, UN, EU, US, UK Embassies

Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday protested in Abuja over the alleged delay in releasing the certified true copy of a Federal High Court judgment that nullified former Senate President David Mark’s emergence as the party’s National Chairman.

The protesters also submitted petitions to the National Judicial Council (NJC), United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), United Kingdom and United States diplomatic missions, seeking intervention over the dispute.

The demonstration took place at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the protesters demanded the release of the judgment delivered on November 5 by Justice Peter Lifu in a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East).

The protesters, including members of the Forum of ADC Candidates, alleged that their lawyers applied for the Certified True Copy (CTC) immediately after the judgment and paid the prescribed fees but had yet to receive the document five days later.

They argued that the delay was preventing them from effectively pursuing an appeal against the ruling, which affected the party’s leadership and decisions taken under the Mark-led National Working Committee.

A former acting ADC chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, Yusuf Shehu Tijani, called on the NJC to intervene, accusing the court of frustrating the party’s efforts to challenge the judgment.

Tijani described the ruling as a sham and questioned its implications for the party’s leadership, insisting that the protesters needed the certified copy to approach the Court of Appeal.

He also maintained that the Supreme Court had previously affirmed Mark’s leadership, questioning the basis of the latest Federal High Court decision.

The protesters urged the NJC to ensure that the court released the document, arguing that parties involved in legal proceedings should have access to the records required to exercise their constitutional rights.

In a separate petition dated November 10 and addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, members of the Forum of ADC Candidates demanded the immediate release of the judgment.

The petition, signed by Audu Aliyu on behalf of the candidates, stated that their lawyers had repeatedly visited the court registry without receiving the document or an explanation for the alleged delay.

The group warned that the delay could undermine its right to appeal, particularly as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.

It cited Sections 241 and 242 of the 1999 Constitution, which provide for appeals against decisions of the Federal High Court, and Section 294(1), concerning the delivery and availability of court judgments.

The candidates also alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the judgment despite their inability to obtain its certified copy.

However, the allegation of political pressure on INEC remains the protesters’ claim and has not been independently established.

The group subsequently extended its campaign to international diplomatic missions, submitting letters to the UN, EU, British High Commission and US Embassy in Abuja.

In the letters, the protesters sought diplomatic attention to what they described as threats to due process, the right of appeal and credible elections in Nigeria.

They urged the international organisations and diplomatic missions to encourage relevant Nigerian institutions to respect due process and avoid actions that could affect ADC candidates while appeals and applications for a stay of execution remained pending.

The November 5 judgment arose from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the party’s interim leadership emerged following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

Justice Lifu ruled that the process through which Mark, former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola and other officials emerged did not satisfy the applicable legal requirements for democratic elections within political parties.

The court also rejected a resignation letter attributed to Bala Gombe, describing it as fictitious or fabricated after examining the disputed signature against other signatures presented before it.

Consequently, the judge set aside the resolutions through which the disputed leadership emerged and restrained INEC from recognising or dealing with the affected officials as national officers of the party.

The ruling also affected decisions taken under the disputed leadership, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The ADC filed a notice of appeal on November 6 and also sought a stay of execution, urging INEC not to take steps that could prejudice the outcome of the pending legal challenge.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, had earlier maintained that the commission would not act on media reports or unofficial accounts of the judgment without obtaining and examining its Certified True Copy.

The commission’s position places additional importance on the release of the document as the legal dispute over the ADC’s leadership continues.

The latest protest adds an international dimension to the party’s internal crisis, with the leadership dispute now involving demands for judicial intervention, diplomatic attention and the protection of the rights of its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.