SDP criticizes court ruling booting out Mark-led ADC, rejects Wike’s coalition

The Social Democratic Party has criticized the Federal High Court's ruling that removed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress. This leadership is headed by former Senate President David Mark. The SDP calls the ruling a threat to democracy in Nigeria.

The party also turned down the rainbow coalition that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is promoting. They accuse the ruling All Progressives Congress of trying to enter opposition parties and weaken them ahead of the 2027 elections.

SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, shared these views on Thursday. This was during a meeting between the party’s National Working Committee and its governorship candidates from nine states.

Gombe said the party will fight against any actions that hurt democracy and take away Nigerians' right to choose their leaders freely.

He stated, "We condemn the so-called disqualification of the ADC leadership and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. This is a democracy. We want Nigerians to be allowed to freely exercise their franchise."

He added, "If a political party presents a candidate, it has the right to do that. We will not allow anything that will truncate our democracy because we have come a long way in this journey."

The SDP chairman pointed out that President Bola Tinubu also became the APC presidential candidate in 2023, despite facing opposition from within his party and former President Muhammadu Buhari’s group.

Gombe said, "The president and the party in power are equally a product of democracy. In fact, he (Tinubu) emerged as president after being an opposition member, even within his own party in 2023."

He continued, "He was an opposition member within his party because the president at the time and the party were against his emergence. Yet he was able to emerge as the presidential candidate and eventually the President."

The SDP's response came after the Abuja Federal High Court's ruling on Thursday. The court nullified the leadership of the ADC under Mark. It also invalidated decisions made by the party’s caretaker leadership, which included naming former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Justice Peter Lifu said that the Mark-led Caretaker Committee, which held the presidential primary that picked Atiku, was not properly formed.

Regarding the push for a rainbow coalition by Nyesom Wike, Gombe warned that it is an attempt to take advantage of political disagreements. He believes this is meant to weaken the chances of opposition parties in the 2027 elections.

He said, "Now, they are going round trying to find how to infiltrate some political parties to cajole their members into a so-called rainbow coalition to break our ranks."

Gombe assured that in the SDP, they want nothing to do with a rainbow coalition. He also warned that members who join the alleged coalition would face punishment.

He mentioned that opposition parties are thinking about working together. They want to pool their polling agents, hold joint training, and set up common situation rooms to monitor the elections.

The meeting was meant to help the party’s leaders and governorship candidates check their readiness and plan ahead for the 2027 elections.

SDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said that Thursday’s meeting was the first round of discussions. More candidates are expected to join in later meetings.

Attendees included the Nasarawa State governorship candidate and Chairman of the SDP Governors’ Forum, Mohammed Adamu; Mogaji Agboola from Oyo State; Prof. Sebastine Tar from Benue State; Mohammed Mohammed from Niger State; Christopher Nathaniel from Adamawa State; Dr. Simple Dafup from Plateau State; Ibrahim Bushira from Kano State; Adam Ma’aji from Gombe State; and Ayuba Katagun from Bauchi State.

Adamu, a former Inspector-General of Police, said they focused on strategies for winning elections at various levels, including presidential, governorship, and state assembly.

He mentioned that the candidates shared experiences from their states and pointed out areas the ruling party could exploit.

Adamu said, "But we know that Nigerians are tired of the APC and need change. The only alternative is the SDP because it has the interest of the masses at heart. We also plan to elevate their living conditions so everybody gets what they need to get. It is the neglect of the masses that is causing so many problems in the country."