2027: ADC alleges plot to stop its candidates

The National Legal Adviser of the African Democratic Congress, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, has alleged that the legal challenge against the party’s leadership is aimed at preventing it from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Osunbor said the objective of the challenge was to weaken the party and discourage Nigerians looking to it and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the elections.

Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Thursday, he accused interests within the ruling All Progressives Congress of backing the legal challenge, while urging party members and supporters not to be distracted by the court ruling.

“This is an attempt to dampen the morale of Nigerians that are looking to ADC and our presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as someone who will rescue us from the sufferings in the land, the insecurity, the poverty, the neglect, the disrespect for the right of Nigerians to choose their leaders,” he said.

Osunbor argued that some political interests believed Nigeria’s leadership should be determined by a few individuals using the judiciary and other government institutions rather than through the votes of citizens.

“Democracy is supposed to be a government where you and I will cast vote,” he said.

This reaction comes after the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday nullified the leadership of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated all decisions taken by the party under its leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. https://punchng.com/breaking-court-sacks-mark-led-adc-nwc-nullifies-atikus-candidacy/

ADC allegations

The ADC legal adviser alleged that the case challenging the David Mark-led leadership was sponsored by interests within the ruling APC.

He suggested that the claimant, Nafiu Bala Gombe, might not have instituted the case without such backing.

“Gombe had resigned. If he wasn’t being sponsored by the ruling party, by people, he may not even have gone to court at all,” Osunbor said.

He also questioned the reassignment of the case from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Peter Lifu, alleging that the process raised concerns about the handling of the matter.

Osunbor maintained that the ultimate objective of the legal challenge was to prevent the ADC from participating fully in the 2027 elections.

“What their target really is the primaries. They don’t want ADC to be able to field a candidate,” he said.

ADC to challenge judgment

Osunbor said the party had yet to receive the certified true copy of the judgment and would study it before deciding on its next legal steps.

He disclosed that the ADC intended to file a motion for a stay of execution and appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

“First of all, we have to bring a motion for stay of execution,” he said.

Despite the ruling, Osunbor insisted that Atiku’s presidential ticket remained valid, citing previous court decisions which he said had upheld the David Mark-led National Working Committee.

Asked whether the party had an alternative candidate should its appeal fail, he described the question as hypothetical, explaining that the party had not held a formal meeting to consider the judgment.

He urged ADC members and supporters to continue with party activities, insisting that the court ruling should not undermine their confidence in the party.