The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appealed the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the party, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend any consequential action pending the determination of the legal challenge.
The party said it had filed a notice of appeal against the judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, alongside an application seeking a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Friday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, who said INEC had been formally notified of the legal proceedings.
Shaibu said the application for a stay of execution was yet to be determined, insisting that the electoral commission must not act as though the pending appeal did not exist.
“The Commission must respect the judicial process and allow the appellate court to hear the case,” he said.
He warned that any action taken by INEC before the appeal was determined could pre-empt the Court of Appeal and undermine the judicial process.
The party’s lawyers, S. E. Aruwa, SAN & Co., also wrote to the INEC chairman on November 6, notifying the commission of the appeal and the application for a stay of execution.
In the letter, the lawyers urged INEC to suspend further action on matters relating to the suit until the appeal was determined.
Despite the legal challenge, the ADC maintained that the dispute would not disrupt its political activities or preparations for the 2027 general election.
“This is not the end of the road. The ADC is taking every lawful step to defend its rights, and we will not be intimidated or distracted from that responsibility,” Shaibu said.
He appealed to party members and supporters to remain calm and confident, assuring them that the party would continue to take its message to Nigerians.
“Our campaigns continue without interruption. There is no stopping the affordability train or our mission to make life better for Nigerians,” he added.
Justice Lifu’s judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the emergence of Mark and other members of the caretaker committee after the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Bala argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s departure.
The court ruled against the Mark-led leadership, nullifying the caretaker committee and its decisions, including actions relating to the party’s process for selecting its 2027 presidential candidate.
The judgment also cast uncertainty over the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
Reacting to the ruling, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described it as an attempt to cripple the opposition and deny Nigerians the opportunity to choose their leaders.
