‘Your Crisis Self-Inflicted’ — APC Replies ADC Over Claim of Influencing Court Judgment

 The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that it influenced a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the leadership of the opposition party, describing the crisis as self-inflicted.

The ruling party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the position known in a statement on Friday, insisting that the APC had no involvement in the legal dispute that resulted in the removal of the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had on Thursday declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and invalidated decisions taken by the committee, including the processes that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The case was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party following the resignation of its former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Reacting to the ADC’s allegation that the judgment was part of a plot by the ruling party to weaken the opposition, Morka said the legal action was initiated by aggrieved ADC national officers and had nothing to do with the APC.

He accused the Mark-led faction of taking over the party’s leadership to advance Atiku’s presidential ambition, allegedly disregarding the party’s constitution and internal democratic procedures.

Morka also criticised the ADC for questioning the judiciary’s independence, arguing that the party should respect court decisions even when they do not favour its interests.

He advised the opposition party to exercise its constitutional right of appeal if dissatisfied with the judgment rather than accuse the APC of collusion or make statements capable of inciting unrest.

The APC spokesman described the ADC as a party unable to resolve its internal disagreements, arguing that an organisation struggling to manage its own affairs could not credibly promise to govern Nigeria.

He reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting democratic institutions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The ADC has rejected the court judgment and maintained that the ruling party was seeking to undermine opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election. The leadership dispute remains subject to further legal proceedings.