Politics
Appeal Court judgment: Evidence was concocted in deregistration suit – ADC
By Luminous Jannamike
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Tuesday hailed the Court of Appeal’s unanimous decision overturning the Federal High Court judgment ordering its deregistration, saying the appellate court found that trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, had ‘concocted evidence’ in favour of the plaintiffs.
The ruling effectively ends, for now, the legal battle over the party’s existence, affirming that the ADC remains a duly recognised political party under the Constitution and the Electoral Act and freeing it to focus on its political activities instead of defending its survival in court.
The party made this known in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who said the appellate court’s decision vindicated the ADC’s long-held position that the suit was legally flawed, unsupported by evidence and incapable of producing a valid judgment.
Abdullahi said: “The ADC also considers as extraordinary the finding by the Court of Appeal that Justice Peter Lifu concocted evidence in resolving the dispute in favour of the plaintiff.
“We believe this goes to the very heart of the integrity of the judiciary and the judicial process. We note that this is the second time in cases involving the ADC that Justice Peter Lifu would be coming under serious indictment by the superior court for wilful disobedience and judicial insubordination and impertinence. We therefore wonder whether such a roundly discredited judge should be allowed to sit on the bench even for a day longer.”
Beyond setting aside the lower court’s judgment in its entirety, the party said the appellate court held that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to bring the suit, having failed to establish any personal legal interest beyond speculative claims that they had contested elections in the past and might do so again in future.
“In striking out the case for want of jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal declared that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate any legal interest peculiar to themselves, relying instead on speculative assertions that they had previously contested elections and might do so again in future, which the court found insufficient to invoke its jurisdiction,” the statement said.
The court also found, according to the ADC, that the plaintiffs failed to prove their claims with credible evidence, while accepting unchallenged evidence from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that the party had met all constitutional and electoral requirements for its continued existence.
The ruling also addressed the status of the party’s elected representatives, with the ADC saying the appellate court rejected the trial court’s conclusion that its lawmakers had defected to another political party, holding that no evidence was presented to support such a finding despite affidavit evidence showing the party had elected representatives, including three members from Kogi State.
“The Court equally rejected the reasoning adopted by the trial court concerning elected members of the ADC. It would be recalled that despite affidavit evidence showing that the ADC had returned elected representatives, including three members from Kogi State, the trial court concluded that those members had defected to another political party, even though no evidence whatsoever of any such defection existed before the court,” Abdullahi stated.
The party recalled that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, later became a party to the suit seeking the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties, arguing that they no longer satisfied the constitutional requirements for continued recognition under Section 225A of the Constitution.
It added that the appellate court faulted the trial court’s interpretation of the constitutional provision, noting that although the lower court acknowledged the correct legal position, it nevertheless reached conclusions that were inconsistent with both the Constitution and the evidence before it.
“The Court of Appeal therefore concluded that the African Democratic Congress satisfies the constitutional threshold for recognition as a political party and remains fully entitled to continue its political activities under the Constitution and the Electoral Act,” the ADC added.
Describing the ruling as significant beyond the fortunes of the affected political parties, Abdullahi said it reaffirmed the principle that judicial authority must be exercised within the bounds of the law, in obedience to superior court orders and on the basis of evidence properly placed before the court.
He added: “We consider this judgment significant, not merely because it restores the rights of the affected political parties but because it reinforces an enduring constitutional principle: that judicial authority must always be exercised within the bounds of the law, in obedience to superior court orders, and on the basis of evidence properly before it.
“The ADC has always maintained its confidence in the judicial process. We are gratified that the Court of Appeal has reaffirmed the rule of law, corrected a grave miscarriage of justice, and protected the constitutional rights of political parties against unlawful interference.”
Abdullahi said the party would continue to strengthen its structures, deepen democratic participation and offer Nigerians what it described as a credible political alternative.
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The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has boasted that the Accord Party cannot withstand it in the forthcoming August 15, 2026, governorship election in Osun State.
The National Chairman of the party, Nentawe Yilwatda, said this on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Osun State APC Governorship Campaign Council in Abuja.
He likened the APC’s political strength in Osun State to a trailer facing a keke napep, declaring that no political party in the state, including Accord, the party of the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, can withstand the calibre of governors, National Assembly members and local government chairmen the APC is deploying ahead of the polls.
According to him, the committee members had been carefully selected from the National Assembly, governors, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), deputy governors, past and present lawmakers, and different stakeholders of the party, including the business community.
“It is like a trailer facing a keke. I do not know how the political party standing against us in Osun can withstand the strength of these people who are going there to mobilise and win the election in 2026,” he said.
Yilwatda emphasized that the APC would mobilise human and material resources across the state, with governors from the South-West, South-South and South-East each taking responsibility for a senatorial district alongside National Assembly members, House of Assembly members and local government chairmen, while governors from the North would also deploy their local government chairmen, councillors and lawmakers for grassroots campaigns.
The APC National Chairman described the Osun election as a litmus test for the party’s preparedness for the 2027 general election, saying it would serve as a rehearsal for the political machine being built for that contest.
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The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark, has welcomed the judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court that sought to deregister the ADC.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the former Senate President described the appellate court’s decision as a victory not just for the ADC, but for Nigeria’s democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
He said the judgment has restored confidence in the nation’s judiciary and reaffirmed that the courts remain the last hope of the common man and a dependable guardian of democratic values.
“The verdict is a reassuring reminder that our judiciary can still rise above pressure and protect democracy, political pluralism and the constitutional rights of citizens and political parties,” Mark stated.
He noted that the attempt to deregister the ADC was a direct assault on multiparty democracy and an unfortunate effort to undermine the constitutional right of Nigerians to freely associate and participate in the political process.
The ADC National Chairman commended the Justices of the Court of Appeal for their courage, impartiality and fidelity to justice, adding that the judgment has strengthened public confidence in the nation’s democratic institutions.
Senator Mark urged all ADC candidates, members and supporters across the country to remain resolute, united and focused on the party’s mission of rescuing Nigeria through purposeful leadership and good governance.
He stressed that the legal victory should serve as renewed motivation for party faithful to intensify grassroots mobilisation and continue working tirelessly towards the success of the ADC in the 2027 general elections.
“Our attention now returns fully to building a stronger, more united and people-oriented political platform that will offer Nigerians a credible alternative in 2027. We must remain steadfast, disciplined and committed to the task ahead,” he said.
Senator Mark reaffirmed the party’s unwavering commitment to democracy, the rule of law and peaceful political engagement, assuring Nigerians that the ADC will continue to champion policies that promote national unity, security, economic prosperity and justice for all.
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Politics
APC threatens erring stakeholders in Anambra with sanctions, affirms Ukachukwu as state leader
The National leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday read a riot act to the warring factions of the party in Anambra State.
The party represented by the APC fact finding committee for Anambra State, led by the Deputy national chairman (South) of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye during a meeting with stakeholders threatened to deal with troublemakers who have continually caused division in the party.
The APC in Anambra State has been in disarray with several courts suits since after its primary election in March, with aggrieved members staging protests, while a court order had allegedly removed the Senator Emma Anosike-led state exco.
Dr Ben Nwoye who led members of the fact finding committee to the state to ascertain the problem in the party said it had through meetings in Abuja with the leadership of the warring factions found out some of the reasons for the division in the party.
Nwoye stated that the state leadership of the party is not on contest, and that the duo of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife are the leader and deputy leader, and that those positions must be respected.
The chairman said: “I’m not here to massage your ego, but I on read a riot act to you and you must abide by it. The problem you have in your state was not caused by anyone of us in the committee, but we are here to see how you can settle because we are one family.
“As this proceedings continue, I don’t want to know which faction of the party you belong to, if you constitute yourself into a thug, we will treat you as such. You must respect yourself through out the period of this reconciliation,” he said.
Nwoye stated that the two options before the committee were to dissolve the executive of the two factions of the party or to align with state leadership of Emma Anosike as the recognized one.
He said: “We will not like anyone to disrespect the leaders of our party no matter your faction. It is settled that the one with the ticket of the party for governorship and who receives our flag becomes the leader of the party in the state. Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife were our candidates in the last election and they are the leader and deputy leader. The party knows that.
“I appeal to all leaders to open the doors of consultation, let the hurt speak, let mistakes be admitted and let authority unite rather than intimidate. Any peace that does not reach the grassroots is incomplete. If genuine members are abandoned, the party becomes vulnerable to rumours and manipulation.”
The reconciliation meeting featured speeches from aggrieved and prominent actors from both factions, with the committee taking note and pledging to get back to the national leaders of the party with the feedbacks gathered.
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