Mark Slams FG After Appeal Court Reverses ADC Deregistration

By Margaret Abah

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has accused the Federal Government of attempting to weaken opposition parties and declared that the Nigerian judiciary is now under scrutiny following the Court of Appeal's decision to halt the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday stayed the execution of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party.

In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice A. B. Mohammed, the appellate court faulted Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court for proceeding with the judgment despite an earlier order issued on May 22 directing him to suspend proceedings.

The panel described the action as a violation of judicial hierarchy and constitutional provisions, granting the application for a stay of execution and suspending enforcement of the judgment.

The Federal High Court had ruled that the five parties failed to meet constitutional requirements under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution regarding electoral performance in the 2023 general elections.

During proceedings, INEC's lead counsel, Haliru Mohammed, informed the appellate court that the commission only became aware of the judgment through media reports and supported the application to suspend its execution.

Counsel to the ADC, Shuaibu Aruwa (SAN), disclosed that the party was notified of the judgment through WhatsApp and urged the appellate court to take disciplinary action against Justice Lifu.

Reacting to the ruling, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the judgment offered hope for the credibility of the judiciary and called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to rid the bench of judges whose conduct undermines public confidence.

Similarly, APP National Leader, Ikenga Ugochinyere, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and urged the NJC to sanction judges whose actions create confusion within the judicial system.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar welcomed the appellate court's decision, describing it as a positive development. He warned against any attempt to use the judiciary to undermine democratic institutions, insisting that Nigeria's hard-earned democracy must be protected.

Civil society group, Tap Initiative for Citizens' Development, also called on the NJC to investigate Justice Lifu over allegations that he delivered judgment despite a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal staying proceedings in the matter.

The organisation, through its Executive Director, Mbasekei Martin Obono, said such actions, if established, would amount to a serious breach of judicial procedure and could erode public confidence in the justice system.

Speaking at the ADC Strategic Communications Retreat in Abuja, David Mark said the controversy surrounding the case had placed the judiciary, rather than the opposition party, on trial.

"The ADC is not on trial. Rather, it is the judiciary that is on trial and the nation is waiting to see how the National Judicial Council will handle this situation," he said.

The former Senate President accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to distract and weaken opposition forces, alleging that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was targeting opposition platforms instead of addressing pressing national challenges.

Despite the legal battle, Mark urged party members not to lose confidence, assuring them that the ADC would emerge stronger.

"We will go through these challenges because we are equal to the task. By the time we are through with all these, the ADC will come out stronger," he stated.