Supporters of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark on Monday staged a protest at the entrance of the Federal High Court in Abuja, urging the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to undermine opposition parties in Nigeria.
The demonstration comes amid the ongoing leadership dispute within the ADC involving the faction led by Nafiu Bala-Gombe and the rival leadership headed by Mark.
The protesters alleged that the legal battle, which was recently remitted to the Federal High Court by the Supreme Court, is being used as a distraction aimed at weakening the opposition party.
In April, the Supreme Court set aside an earlier order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja directing all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum in the leadership tussle. The order had formed the basis for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of the David Mark-led leadership of the party.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel, the apex court directed the parties to return to the Federal High Court for an accelerated hearing of the suit filed by ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala-Gombe.
The suit challenges, among other issues, the emergence of the David Mark-led leadership of the party.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, INEC restored David Mark as National Chairman of the ADC and reinstated other principal members of the party’s National Working Committee.
The electoral commission subsequently updated its website to reflect the party’s leadership structure, listing Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary.
Also reinstated were Mani Ahmad as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Oserheimen Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.
