Bolaji Abdullahi
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has escalated its leadership dispute to the Supreme Court following Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s ward, local government and state congresses, insisting the ruling does not invalidate its direct primaries or candidates for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party announced that it had commenced the process of challenging the appellate court’s decision, which it described as legally unsustainable.
The ADC maintained that the judgment was limited to issues surrounding the conduct of its congresses and had no bearing on the direct primaries through which its candidates emerged across the country.
According to the party, it is also encouraged by the dissenting opinion of the presiding justice, which it believes correctly reflects the legal position and supports its interpretation of the dispute.
“The judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the party’s candidates have emerged at all levels,” the statement said.
The party urged members and supporters to remain calm, assuring them that its preparations for the 2027 general elections would continue uninterrupted while the legal battle moves to the nation’s apex court.
The appeal marks the latest chapter in the ADC’s prolonged internal leadership crisis, which has triggered rival claims over the party’s structure and generated multiple court cases ahead of the next general election.
The controversy also follows recent allegations by a rival faction that it had uploaded candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal—a claim rejected by both the party leadership and the electoral commission. INEC has maintained that it recognises only the National Executive Committee led by Senator David Mark.
Reaffirming its commitment to the electoral process, the ADC said it would continue to pursue its political objectives through constitutional means while seeking a final judicial determination from the Supreme Court.