ADC Candidates Protest in Abuja Over Delay in Release of Court Judgment

Members and candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have protested in Abuja over what they described as an unjustified delay in the release of the certified true copy of a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the party’s leadership under David Mark.

The protesters, operating under the Forum of ADC Candidates in Nigeria, staged the demonstration on Tuesday and submitted a petition to the European Union, United States Embassy, British High Commission and United Nations.

In the petition, the candidates expressed concern that the delay was undermining their constitutional right to appeal the judgment delivered on November 5 by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja.

They said their lawyers applied for the certified copy immediately after the ruling and paid the required fees but had yet to receive the document five days later.

According to the group, repeated visits to the court registry had not produced a satisfactory explanation for the delay.

The candidates argued that the absence of the judgment document was preventing them from effectively exercising their right to challenge the decision, which invalidated the Mark-led National Working Committee and decisions taken by the party’s caretaker leadership.

The ruling also affected the party’s nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The forum urged the diplomatic missions to encourage Nigerian institutions to uphold due process and ensure the immediate release of the court document.

It also appealed to INEC to maintain neutrality and transparency while the legal dispute continued, warning against implementing the judgment in a manner that could exclude candidates before the conclusion of pending appeals.

The candidates further called on security agencies to exercise restraint and urged international observers to monitor developments surrounding the party’s leadership crisis.