*Renews Call For INEC Chairman’s Resignation
The African Democratic Congress on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court judgment affirming David Mark as its National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, describing the ruling as a validation of the party’s leadership amid an internal crisis.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said, “Today’s decision is a clear affirmation that our party, its structures, and its leadership under our National Chairman, Senator Mark, and our National Secretary, Ogbeni Aregbesola, are legitimate.”
It also commended the apex court, noting that the unanimous judgment “has today done great credit to the judiciary in our country and our political system.”
The ruling stems from a legal dispute over the recognition of Mark and Aregbesola as national officers of the party.
The Supreme Court set aside a “status quo ante bellum” order issued during earlier proceedings, holding that such preservative directives cannot subsist once a matter has been effectively concluded.
In the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Garba held that courts may issue preservative orders only where there is a subsisting subject matter.
Once proceedings have been “fully, faithfully, conclusively and finally concluded,” he said, there is “nothing left” to preserve.
The court also ruled that the appeal challenging the lower court’s directives was incompetent because it did not arise from a decision granting or refusing an injunction.
It stressed that obtaining leave of court in such circumstances is a “condition precedent,” and failure to do so deprives the court of jurisdiction.
The dispute originated from a suit seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising Mark and Aregbesola, and to stop them from acting in those roles pending the determination of the case.
However, the trial court had directed parties to maintain the status quo while ordering that respondents be put on notice.
Reacting to the wider implications, the ADC said the events leading to the judgment exposed “a troubling pattern of interference, bad faith, and attempts to weaken opposition voices in Nigeria,” adding that “the ADC will not be intimidated, distracted, or silenced.”
It urged members and stakeholders to remain alert, stating, “We therefore urge all our members, supporters, and democratic stakeholders across the country to remain vigilant.
“Democracy is not defended in a single courtroom victory, it is sustained through constant vigilance, active participation, and the courage to resist any attempt to undermine the will of the people.”
The party also rewned calls for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, stating that “the integrity and neutrality required of the office have been compromised.”
It argued that the circumstances surrounding the dispute point to “either a grave failure of judgment or a deliberate act of bad faith,” and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore recognition of the Mark-led leadership across its official platforms.
The ADC said it would continue to defend democratic principles, noting that while the ruling is decisive, it underscores ongoing legal and political contestations within opposition parties and Nigeria’s broader electoral system.