After local, international pressures, Justice Lifu finally releases judgement CTC, ADC confirms receipt but…
By KEMI KASUMU
“The ADC will study the judgment and pursue every lawful remedy available. But the timing of the release raises serious concern, especially as our party continues to face actions that obstruct its campaign and political consultations.”
After heavily mounted pressures locally and internally, Justice Peter Lifu has finally bowed to popular demands by releasing the Certified True Copy (CTC) of his Federal High Court Abuja judgement sacking the David Mark-led National Executive Council of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) confirmed receipt of the CTC of the judgment but also expressed concern over the release on the final day of the seven-day period stipulated by the Constitution.
Justice Lifu had, last week, ordered the removal of Mark as the party’s national chairman, while also nullifying the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, and other candidates who emerged from primaries conducted under Mark’s leadership.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the circumstances surrounding Mark’s emergence as the party’s leader.
Bala had argued that, as the party’s National Vice Chairman (North), he ought to have assumed leadership following the resignation of the former chairman.
The ADC, however, blamed the crisis on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that President Bola Tinubu was using the courts to frustrate Atiku’s presidential ambition.
The party subsequently requested the certified true copy of the judgment to enable it to pursue an appeal.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ADC PCC Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, confirmed receipt of the judgment but questioned why it was released on the final day of the constitutionally prescribed seven-day period.
He said, “Justice Peter Lifu has finally released the duly authenticated copy of his judgment, on the final day of the seven-day period prescribed by the Constitution. Releasing a consequential judgment on the last permitted day leaves the African Democratic Congress with precious little time to study it and prepare its next legal steps.
“Section 294(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides:
“Every court established under this Constitution shall deliver its decision in writing not later than ninety days after the conclusion of evidence and final addresses and furnish all parties to the cause or matter determined with duly authenticated copies of the decision within seven days of the delivery thereof.”
Shaibu said the party would carefully study the judgment and explore all lawful options available to it.
“The ADC will study the judgment and pursue every lawful remedy available. But the timing of the release raises serious concern, especially as our party continues to face actions that obstruct its campaign and political consultations.”
The ADC spokesman also alleged that the Kaduna State Government had sealed the historic Arewa House, which the party had proposed as the venue for Atiku’s consultation with Northern stakeholders scheduled for Thursday.
Describing the development as an affront to the region’s heritage, Shaibu said:
“Arewa House is part of the shared heritage of the diverse peoples of Northern Nigeria. Sealing it to prevent a political consultation is an affront to their culture and dignity.
“My campaign team had proposed the Arewa House as the venue for our consultation with stakeholders on Thursday and, today, the APC government decided to seal the building.
“This is a troubling pattern. During our campaign flag-off in Sokoto, the APC government also tried to frustrate us. The people stood firm, and their will prevailed. Now, as Atiku prepares to consult stakeholders at Arewa House, the venue has been sealed.
“We hold President Bola Tinubu and the APC politically responsible for this pattern of obstruction. An outgoing president and a ruling party should respect democratic competition, not use public authority to impede the opposition, restrict political consultation or weaken Nigerians’ right to choose.
“We will not be intimidated. We thank Nigerians across the country for their massive support, solidarity and encouragement. Your resolve strengthens ours. The ADC will continue its consultations, pursue its legal rights and take its message of a new direction to the people.”
The party maintained that it would not be deterred by the legal and political challenges, insisting that it would continue its consultations and pursue all available legal remedies.
