Supporters of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress 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 stifle opposition political parties in Nigeria.
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The protest came amid the ongoing leadership dispute between the David Mark-led ADC leadership and the faction led by Nafiu Bala-Gombe.
The demonstrators alleged that the suit filed by Bala-Gombe, which was recently returned to the Federal High Court by the Supreme Court for expeditious hearing, was part of a plot to distract the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The dispute followed a legal battle over the emergence of the Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
In April, the Supreme Court set aside an order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which had directed the parties in the leadership tussle to maintain the status quo ante bellum. The order had earlier formed the basis upon which the Independent National Electoral Commission reportedly acted in derecognising 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 accelerated hearing of the suit filed by Bala-Gombe, who is challenging the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, INEC restored Senator David Mark as National Chairman of the ADC and reinstated other principal officers of the party’s National Working Committee.
The electoral commission also updated its website to reflect the leadership structure, listing Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary.
Others reinstated include Mani Ahmad as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Oserheimen Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.
The protesters, however, insisted that the lingering litigation was being used to undermine the party and weaken the opposition.
They called on the judiciary to remain independent and ensure that political disputes are resolved strictly in accordance with the law, without allowing the courts to become tools for destabilising political parties.
The matter is expected to continue before the Federal High Court following the Supreme Court’s order for expeditious hearing.
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