The Federal High Court’s decision to sack the Senator David Mark-led executive committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and nullify its actions has triggered widespread criticism from former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).
The opposition figures and groups expressed concerns that the ruling could deepen political uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections, weaken opposition parties and threaten democratic competition.
The court, in a judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, declared the Mark-led ADC caretaker committee illegal and invalidated all actions taken by it, including the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its candidate for the 2027 election.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC (North-East), who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was entitled to assume the party’s leadership. The court upheld his claims and granted the reliefs sought.
The decision has raised questions about the status of Atiku’s candidacy, coming barely 24 hours after the former Vice-President held a campaign rally in Sokoto State.
Reacting, Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the judgment to frustrate his presidential ambition and weaken the ADC’s growing political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the ruling came barely a day after thousands of supporters welcomed him to Sokoto for the launch of his campaign.
He alleged that the development was part of a strategy to weaken his support base in Northern Nigeria and prevent his campaign from gaining momentum across the country.
Atiku, however, insisted that the judgment would not derail the ADC’s mobilisation or diminish its national appeal.
He said the reception in Sokoto reflected growing public dissatisfaction with economic hardship and Nigerians’ desire for a change in government.
Rejecting suggestions that his candidacy was a Northern project, the former Vice-President maintained that his political ambition was national in scope.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries,” he said.
Atiku also questioned why the leadership dispute had resurfaced despite an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
He claimed that the earlier court had dismissed the challenge to the David Mark-led leadership after upholding objections relating to jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
Describing the latest development as an attempt to circumvent an existing judgment, Atiku said the ADC would challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
“Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute? This is a calculated attempt to circumvent a subsisting judgment. We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he said.
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He urged ADC supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that the party’s Affordable Life campaign would continue despite the legal setback.
Obi Raises Concerns Over Electoral Uncertainty
Also reacting, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, urged Nigerians and the judiciary to protect democratic principles and ensure that opposition parties were allowed to operate freely.
Obi, in a statement posted on his X account on Thursday, said he was concerned that the judgment had created uncertainty in the country’s political landscape with the 2027 general election approaching.
Although he acknowledged the authority of the judiciary to determine disputes according to the law, he questioned the timing of the decision, arguing that electoral certainty was important ahead of a general election.
“I do not challenge the ruling of the court. The court of law is constituted to determine disputes according to the law. My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor alleged that the ruling party was contributing to instability within opposition parties, claiming that similar developments had affected him in the Labour Party.
He also expressed concerns over alleged violence against opposition campaigns, warning that such developments could shrink civic space and weaken political competition.
Obi maintained that voters, rather than political manoeuvres, should ultimately determine who governs the country.
“One mark of democracy is that at all times, it is voters and not courts that choose leaders. I trust in the judiciary. As a public officer, I have shown deep respect for the judiciary,” he said.
He called on the judiciary and other stakeholders to protect democratic institutions and ensure that opposition candidates were not unfairly prevented from participating in elections.
Obi further warned that weakening opposition politics could threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability, particularly amid the spread of military rule in parts of West Africa.
He said any administration led by him would prioritise the stability of opposition parties and protect their candidates from being pushed out of electoral contests.
“This is a time to strengthen our democracy by allowing the opposition to thrive,” he added.
CUPP accuses APC of weakening opposition
Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties criticised the judgment, alleging that it formed part of a broader effort to weaken opposition parties and undermine political pluralism in Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday through its Office of the Spokesperson, CUPP accused the APC-led government of benefiting from developments that could weaken opposition political structures.
The coalition described the ruling as more than an isolated leadership dispute, alleging that it could create conditions for a one-party state.
“CUPP views this controversial judgment not as an isolated legal dispute, but as part of a well-choreographed, state-sponsored onslaught aimed at wiping out viable opposition parties and turning Nigeria into a one-party state,” the statement said.
The group also questioned the judiciary’s role in protecting democratic rights and political participation, warning that the courts must remain committed to the Constitution and the interests of Nigerians.
It accused the ruling party of relying on legal processes to challenge opposition candidates and party leadership structures, arguing that such developments could undermine confidence in the electoral system.
“The judiciary must remember that its allegiance belongs to the Constitution and the Nigerian people, not to the political actors of the day. When the courts become a tool for political liquidation, the very survival of our democracy is at stake,” CUPP stated.
The coalition declared solidarity with the ADC and other opposition groups, pledging to continue defending democratic participation and political pluralism.
The ruling is expected to generate further legal and political reactions as the ADC leadership dispute moves towards possible appellate proceedings
