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African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidates, in the 2027 general election, have protested the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked the Senator David Mark led National Working Committee (NWC), and nullified all actions of the leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the general election.
The opposition candidates, on the aegis of the Forum of ADC Candidates in Nigeria, in a petition, signed on their behalf by Audu Aliyu, to the United Nations (UN), United States (US) Embassy, British High Commission and the European Union to Nigeria and Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), said the court is allegedly delaying the release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) to the party to enable it appeal the judgment.
A Federal High Court, in Abuja, had in a judgment in suit by former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala, challenging the emergence of the Mark led NWC as the leadership of the opposition, sacked the Mark team and nullified all the actions so far taken by the leadership.
However, the ADC candidates stated that while they disagree with the judgement, they respect the Courts and would pursue their case through every lawful avenue and abide with “the final decision of the highest court of competent jurisdiction,” once their right of appeal is exhausted.
The candidate urged the diplomatic mission to “ emphasize” to the government and relevant agencies the need for due process and “encourage” that no action be taken on the judgment until their right to appeal has been exhausted.
The petition read in part “ The judgment voided the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman of the ADC and voided all actions taken by him, including the nomination of all ADC candidates for the 2027 General Elections. If given effect while still open to challenge, it would remove the candidates of a major opposition party, including, as widely reported, its presidential candidate, from the ballot.
“We respect the Courts and we disagree with this judgment. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), guarantees a right of appeal to the Court of Appeal, and requires that the decisions of courts be delivered in writing and made available to the parties. We are pursuing every lawful avenue, and we will abide by the final decision of the highest court of competent jurisdiction once our right of appeal is exhausted.
“A right of appeal is only as real as the ability to exercise it. Immediately after judgment on 5th November, 2026, our Counsel formally applied for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment and paid the prescribed fees. As at the date of this letter, five (5) days later, the CTC has not been released to us, and our lawyers’ daily visits to the Registry have produced no lawful explanation. We have petitioned the Honourable the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
“We have also received information that political pressure is being brought on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the same judgment immediately. We make no accusation against any person or institution here. We simply observe that a party cannot be asked to accept the consequences of a judgment while being denied the document it needs to challenge it.”
