A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress and ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Kenneth Imasuagbon, has rejected the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the party and Atiku’s presidential candidacy, alleging bias in the handling of the case and insisting that the party would pursue its challenge through the appellate courts.
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Imasuagbon, a lawyer and former governorship aspirant in Edo State, described the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu as unacceptable and contrary to what he considered the proper application of the law.
He made the remarks during a television interview following the November 5 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which invalidated decisions taken under the Mark-led ADC leadership, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election. The ADC has since filed a notice of appeal and an application for a stay of execution.
Imasuagbon also made serious allegations concerning Justice Lifu’s impartiality, claiming that the judge had links with the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
However, when repeatedly asked by the programme host to provide evidence for the allegations, Imasuagbon described them as his “personal opinion” and said he would produce evidence “when the time comes”.
“Without apology, this is my personal opinion, I would say that he’s an APC person. He has a relationship with Wike,” Imasuagbon said.
Pressed further on the basis of the allegation, he referred to the judge’s Rivers State background and made additional claims about an alleged relationship between the judge and Wike.
The television host cautioned him that, as a lawyer, allegations against the integrity and character of a judicial officer required substantiation and stressed on air that the comments represented Imasuagbon’s personal views.
Imasuagbon also disclosed that lawyers representing the ADC had, during the proceedings, asked Justice Lifu to recuse himself from the case.
According to him, the party told the court that it did not have confidence in the judge handling the matter and asked him to step aside, but the application was rejected.
“The party, ADC, said, ‘We do not believe in Justice Lifu handling this case. Please excuse yourself,’” he said.
“He refused. He turned down the prayers of our lawyers, and he said he must hear the case.”
Imasuagbon maintained that courts should remain institutions of justice and hope, particularly for people without political power, rather than being perceived as instruments of oppression.
The Federal High Court had ruled that the Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC was unlawfully constituted and consequently set aside decisions taken under it, including the primary that produced Atiku.
The judgment also affected former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s position as National Secretary and other candidates nominated by the party under the disputed leadership.
The case was instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who maintained that the process through which Mark and the caretaker committee assumed control of the party violated its constitution.
Imasuagbon, however, disputed the basis of Gombe’s continuing claim to the party leadership, alleging that Gombe had previously resigned from the ADC and had written a resignation letter.
Gombe has disputed that position.
Imasuagbon said the Mark-led ADC would continue its legal challenge at the Court of Appeal and, if necessary, the Supreme Court.
The party has already formally lodged an appeal against Justice Lifu’s judgment and filed a motion seeking a stay of execution pending the determination of that appeal.
Imasuagbon insisted that Atiku should remain on the ballot for the 2027 presidential election despite the Federal High Court decision.
“Atiku must be on the ballot,” he said.
At another point in the interview, he declared: “If Atiku is not going to be, there will not be election.”
The statement was made in the context of his argument that the party would resist what he regarded as attempts to exclude its presidential candidate through the courts. He said the ADC would use available legal processes to defend what it considered its democratic rights.
“You want to kill democracy; we’ll defend democracy. Democracy will not be killed. Whatever it takes us to defend our country, I, Kenneth Imasuagbon, will be one of those that will defend the country,” he said.
Imasuagbon also said international attention was focused on Nigeria’s judiciary because of the timing and political implications of the case.
“The whole world is watching our courts and our judicial system,” he said.
He claimed that after returning to Nigeria from the United States, two Americans contacted him to ask about the judgment and how a major presidential candidate could face such a ruling barely two months before an election.
The 2027 presidential election is scheduled for January, making the appellate proceedings particularly consequential for the ADC and the hundreds of candidates affected by the Federal High Court judgment. The lower court’s decision remains subject to appeal.
Imasuagbon also responded to comments attributed to Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo that “heaven will not come down” if Atiku does not appear on the ballot.
“Heaven will come down,” Imasuagbon responded, arguing that many Nigerians were looking for political change because of economic hardship.
Beyond the ADC leadership dispute, the former governorship aspirant used the interview to criticise President Bola Tinubu’s administration over insecurity, the economy, unemployment, infrastructure and the cost of living.
He claimed that Nigeria’s security situation had deteriorated compared with the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The way Nigeria is today, Nigeria’s security situation is worse than it was during Buhari. Buhari is even better than Tinubu,” he said.
He accused the government of failing to adequately address insecurity and argued that an Atiku administration would place greater emphasis on policing.
According to him, Atiku would seek to increase the number of police officers, improve their welfare, equip security agencies and deepen security cooperation with countries including the United States, European nations and China.
He recalled travelling between Abuja and Kaduna at night in earlier decades and contrasted that experience with what he described as the present security situation on major highways.
During the exchange, the host challenged some of his characterisation of the Abuja-Kaduna road, pointing out that people, including foreign diplomats, continued to travel on the route.
Imasuagbon then referred to an alleged attack on his own convoy in Edo State less than two months earlier.
He claimed that his convoy was fired upon and said he had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and contacted the SSS over the incident.
He also made allegations against Edo political figures in connection with threats to his safety, but did not present evidence during the programme establishing that the state governor or other officials ordered the alleged attack.
Imasuagbon said he had also raised his security concerns during a visit to the United States and claimed to have submitted complaints to American authorities.
He accused the Edo State Government of failing to create what he considered a sufficiently secure political environment, while saying that his political activities would continue despite the alleged threats.
Turning to the economy, Imasuagbon said hunger, unemployment, poor roads, inadequate electricity supply and insecurity would be major issues in the 2027 election.
“People cannot eat. Youths don’t have jobs. Women can’t go to farm because of security,” he said.
He cited the price of rice and insecurity affecting farming communities in his native Esan area of Edo State as examples.
Imasuagbon also criticised the Federal Government’s borrowing, claiming that the Tinubu administration had accumulated more than ₦120 trillion in debt, although he qualified the assertion by saying, “I stand to be corrected.”
He further questioned the condition of Nigeria’s education system, road infrastructure and electricity supply.
According to him, the Tinubu he once knew politically was different from the President he now sees in office.
“This is not the Tinubu I used to know,” he said.
Imasuagbon recalled having known Tinubu for many years and said he once gave him a ride from Abuja Airport in 1999.
Despite his criticism, he addressed the President personally and urged him to consider how his administration would be remembered decades from now.
“I love you, sir. This moment is a figment of imagination when you compare it to your legacy and your history. You should be worried about how Nigerians will view you 30, 40, 50 years down the line,” he said.
On economic policy, Imasuagbon defended the possibility of restoring fuel subsidy under a different arrangement, arguing that leakages could be blocked while domestic production was increased.
Asked whether returning subsidy would constitute sound economic policy, he responded that it would be “very smart” if accompanied by measures to eliminate corruption and expand production.
He also said an Atiku administration would consider opening borders as part of measures he believed could help reduce the prices of goods.
Imasuagbon presented Atiku as experienced in both government and business, citing his tenure as Vice-President and private-sector interests.
He described the former Vice-President as prepared for the presidency and compared his political and intellectual capacity favourably with that of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“With people like me that are close to Atiku, he cannot even fail to perform, because we’ll tell him the truth,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that the ADC should accept the Federal High Court judgment as the final word on the dispute.
The party’s legal team has formally notified INEC of its appeal and application for a stay of execution, meaning the contest over the legality of the Mark-led leadership, Atiku’s nomination and the status of other ADC candidates is now moving to the appellate courts.
For Imasuagbon, the controversy extends beyond Atiku’s personal ambition to what he described as the need to preserve competitive democracy and confidence in the judicial system.
He maintained that the ADC would pursue every lawful avenue available to challenge the Federal High Court ruling and secure its candidates’ participation in the 2027 elections.
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