Supporters of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have taken the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership crisis to the streets of Abuja as they demand the release of a court judgment that invalidated the party’s leadership structure and the presidential primary that produced him as its candidate for the 2027 election.
The protesters gathered at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, November 11, seeking the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on November 5. They alleged that the delay in releasing the document could frustrate Atiku’s efforts to challenge the ruling and weaken his position ahead of the presidential election.
The demonstration has introduced a fresh dimension to a dispute that now threatens the opposition party’s electoral preparations. Beyond the immediate question of Atiku’s candidacy, the controversy concerns who has the lawful authority to control the ADC, make decisions on its behalf and nominate candidates for elective offices.
Justice Lifu ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC for the North-East, who challenged the emergence of the caretaker leadership headed by former Senate President David Mark.
Gombe maintained that he was entitled to assume the party’s leadership following the resignation of its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
He questioned the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee took control of the organisation, contending that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant electoral provisions.
The court upheld his claims and declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal. It also invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
The ruling equally affected the emergence of Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and other appointments made by the disputed leadership.
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The consequences extend beyond the former Vice-President. The judgment also threatens the standing of other candidates nominated through primaries organised by the Mark-led leadership, potentially disrupting the party’s preparations for contests across different levels of government.
Atiku had been presented as the ADC’s presidential candidate, while former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi had been selected as his running mate. The court decision has placed that arrangement under serious legal uncertainty.
Why the certified judgment matters
A certified true copy is the official authenticated version of a court’s decision. It contains the judge’s orders and the reasoning behind them, allowing the affected parties and their lawyers to examine precisely what the court decided.
The distinction is important because the ADC has already taken steps to challenge the ruling. The party filed a notice of appeal on November 6 and also applied for a stay of execution at the Federal High Court. It subsequently notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the pending appeal and asked the commission to suspend further action on the judgment.
However, filing an appeal does not automatically suspend the operation of a judgment. A stay of execution must be granted by the court before the affected orders are formally suspended.
The certified judgment is also necessary for the party’s lawyers to identify the grounds for challenging the decision and prepare the record required for the appellate proceedings.
The ADC’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, had earlier disclosed that the party’s counsel applied for the certified copy on November 6 and paid the assessed fee. He also said counsel representing another defendant applied on November 5, the day the judgment was delivered.
The party claimed that both applications carried the court’s payment stamp, yet the document had not been released.
The protesters accused the court of delaying access to a judgment with serious implications for the party’s political future. They submitted a petition at the Federal High Court and announced plans to present similar complaints to the United States Embassy and the United Nations, seeking international attention to the dispute.
Their allegation of deliberate obstruction, however, has not been established. The court’s explanation for the delay was not contained in the protest report, and no official response from the judiciary was provided.
A race against the electoral calendar
The timing has intensified the political consequences of the dispute. INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, leaving political parties with limited time to settle disputes over their candidates and leadership arrangements.
The commission’s revised timetable places the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
The ADC’s current predicament therefore raises questions about the legal status of its earlier nomination process and whether the party can preserve its existing candidates while the leadership dispute proceeds through the courts.
The commission’s position will also be significant. INEC’s recognition of a political party’s leadership and candidates must be guided by applicable electoral laws and binding court decisions, not simply by which faction makes the strongest public claim.
As for the ADC, the immediate priorities are securing the certified judgment, pursuing its appeal and obtaining a decision on its application for a stay. The Court of Appeal will have to examine the trial court’s findings and determine whether the judgment should stand, be varied or be overturned.
The dispute also places pressure on the party to resolve its internal leadership crisis through lawful procedures. A political organisation preparing to challenge the ruling party in a presidential election cannot afford prolonged uncertainty over who controls its structure or has the authority to nominate its candidates.
Atiku’s supporters have taken their grievances to the streets, but the decisive battle will be fought through the courts. Until the appellate process produces a clear outcome, the ADC’s presidential ticket and other nominations will continue to face uncertainty, with the January 2027 election drawing closer.
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