The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has moved to allay fears among its rank and file, asserting that Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment concerning its ward, local government, and state congresses does not invalidate the direct primaries that produced its candidates for the 2027 general elections.
In an official response to the appellate court’s decision, the party dismissed the majority ruling as “legally unsustainable” and confirmed that it has already initiated an appeal to the Supreme Court.
The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, released a statement on Monday clarifying the party’s legal standing. While the Court of Appeal in Abuja ruled on matters related to the election of internal party executive committees, the ADC argues that this decision has no bearing on the candidate selection process conducted via direct primaries.
“We wish to assure members of the Party and the general public that this judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the Party’s candidates have emerged at all levels,” the statement read.
Crucially, the party is pinning its hopes on a dissenting opinion delivered by the presiding Justice during the ruling. According to the ADC, this minority judgment aligns more closely with both the established tenets of Nigerian jurisprudence and the party’s own constitutional interpretation.
“We also note the dissenting judgment of the presiding Justice, which, in our view, more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the Party’s position,” Abdullahi added.
Acknowledging the anxiety that such legal battles often provoke among supporters, the ADC urged its members and the broader public to remain composed. The party reiterated its commitment to offering Nigerians a viable opposition platform, vowing to pursue its mission strictly within the bounds of the Constitution and the rule of law.
“We urge all Party members and the millions of our supporters to remain calm, confident and focused,” the statement concluded.
As the legal tussle now shifts to the nation’s highest court, political observers will be watching to see if the Supreme Court will weigh in on the distinction between internal party leadership elections and the validity of candidate primaries—a distinction the ADC insists is fundamental to its current lineup for the 2027 polls.