ADC Claims Plot Against Its Candidates for 2027 Elections

The National Legal Adviser of the African Democratic Congress, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, has claimed that the legal challenge against the party's leadership is meant to stop it from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Osunbor said the aim of the challenge is to weaken the party and discourage Nigerians who see it and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as a solution before the elections.

In an interview with Arise News on Thursday, he accused some people within the ruling All Progressives Congress of supporting the legal challenge, while urging party members and supporters to stay focused and not be distracted by the court ruling.

"This is an attempt to dampen the morale of Nigerians that are looking to ADC and our presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as someone who will rescue us from the sufferings in the land, the insecurity, the poverty, the neglect, the disrespect for the right of Nigerians to choose their leaders," he said.

Osunbor argued that some political groups think Nigeria's leadership should be decided by a few people using the courts and other government institutions instead of through the votes of the citizens.

"Democracy is supposed to be a government where you and I will cast vote," he said.

This response comes after the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday canceled the leadership of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark. The court also invalidated all decisions made under its leadership, including the decision to nominate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

The ADC legal adviser claimed that the case against the David Mark-led leadership was backed by people within the ruling APC.

He suggested that the claimant, Nafiu Bala Gombe, might not have filed the case without such support.

"Gombe had resigned. If he wasn't being sponsored by the ruling party, by people, he may not even have gone to court at all," Osunbor said.

He also questioned why the case was moved from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Peter Lifu, saying that this raised concerns about how the matter was handled.

Osunbor maintained that the main goal of the legal challenge is to stop the ADC from fully participating in the 2027 elections.

"What their target really is the primaries. They don't want ADC to be able to field a candidate," he said.

Osunbor said the party has not yet received the certified true copy of the judgment and will review it before deciding on their next legal steps.

He revealed that the ADC plans to file a motion for a stay of execution and appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

"First of all, we have to bring a motion for stay of execution," he said.

Despite the ruling, Osunbor insisted that Atiku's presidential ticket is still valid, citing previous court decisions that he claims have supported the David Mark-led National Working Committee.

When asked if the party had an alternative candidate if the appeal fails, he called the question hypothetical, saying that the party has not had a formal meeting to discuss the judgment.

He urged ADC members and supporters to keep engaging in party activities, insisting that the court ruling should not shake their confidence in the party.