We will hold Tinubu accountable, we just want United Nations to bear us witness, ADC Supporters Group vows, petitions UN, EU, ECOWAS
*Demands release of Justice Peter Lifu’s court judgment CTC
By KEMI KASUMU
The group also petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the CTC of the judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter O. Lifu in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, involving Nafi’u Bala Gombe against the ADC and others.
A support group known as the Forum of ADC Candidates has petitioned the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), seeking diplomatic intervention in the controversy surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership and the delayed release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a recent Federal High Court judgment.
The group also petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the CTC of the judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter O. Lifu in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, involving Nafi’u Bala Gombe against the ADC and others.
Speaking while presenting the petition at the United Nations House in Abuja, the group’s leader, Aliyu Audi, said the move was aimed at drawing international attention to what he described as threats to Nigeria’s democratic process and the need for government institutions to respect the rule of law.
Audi urged the UN to explore available diplomatic options to ensure the protection of democratic principles, stressing that political competition and access to judicial remedies were fundamental to democracy.
He argued that denying parties the opportunity to challenge court decisions could undermine democratic competition and turn elections into what he described as a coronation rather than a democratic contest.
The group leader maintained that the forum was prepared to exhaust all available legal avenues to seek redress, insisting that Nigeria’s democratic institutions must be protected.
“We are going to hold him accountable and we just want the United Nations to bear us witness in every step we take,” Audi said, referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the government’s handling of the controversy.
The UN delegation received the group’s letter and issued an acknowledgement copy. Those present included Suzanne Su, Head of the Resident Coordinating Office; Ronald Kayanja, Head of the UN Information Centre; and Mahmoud Sinasi, Deputy Head of Security.
In a separate petition to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the group demanded that the court’s Registrar be directed to release the certified judgment within 24 hours.
According to the petition, Justice Lifu, in his November 5 judgment, voided the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman of the ADC and invalidated actions taken by him, including the nomination of the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Although the petitioners said they disagreed with the judgment, they insisted on exercising their constitutional right to appeal.
They alleged that their counsel applied for the CTC immediately after the judgment was delivered and paid the prescribed fees, adding that the judge had indicated that the document was ready.
However, the petition claimed that the CTC remained unavailable as of November 10, five days after the judgment, despite repeated visits by their lawyers to the court registry.
The group argued that the delay was frustrating its constitutional right of appeal, citing Sections 241 and 242 of the 1999 Constitution, which provide for appeals against decisions of the Federal High Court.
It also invoked Section 294(1), contending that failure to make the written judgment available to the parties could undermine access to justice.
The petition further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the judgment even though the ADC group had yet to obtain its certified copy. The allegation was not independently established.
Describing the development as a potential threat to the opposition party’s ability to seek judicial redress before the election timetable advances, the petitioners declared: “Democracy dies not by coup, but by Registry delay.”
The group also informed the Chief Judge that its support groups, members, candidates and concerned Nigerians would gather peacefully at the Federal High Court premises in Abuja on Wednesday, November 11, at 10 a.m. to demand the release of the CTC.
It emphasised that the planned gathering was not intended as a protest against the judiciary but as a demonstration to demand access to the document required to approach the Court of Appeal.
The petition was copied to the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the National Judicial Council (NJC), the INEC Chairman and the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful and lawful efforts to challenge the judgment and protect what it described as Nigeria’s democratic space.
At the UN Building, the petition was received and acknowledged by Suzanne Su, Head of the Resident Coordinating Office, accompanied by Ronald Kayanja, Head of the UN Information Centre, and Mahmoud Sinasi, Deputy Head of Security.
