A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress ADC in Nasarawa State, Comrade Abdullahi Ibrahim Ismael, has alleged that the Federal Government and the agents of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are mounting undue pressure on the Federal High Court, Abuja, and Justice Peter Lifu to rule in favour of Nafi’u Bala Gombe in the ongoing ADC leadership crisis.
Ismael made the allegation while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
According to Ismael, the ADC leadership which favours former Senate President David Mark and former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola has the backing of a previous Supreme Court judgment on internal party democracy.
He said the ruling party is aware that Nafi’u Bala has a weak case because the Electoral Act does not support court interference in the internal affairs of political parties.
He added that Nafiu Bala had become a Lone ranger since all his accomplices had either defected to the APC or lost interest in the matter.
Ismael however noted that the APC and its agents are pursuing these shenanigans because they do not want opposition parties on the ballot in the 2027 presidential elections.
“They have sponsors and individuals they use to destroy various opposition parties Labour Party, PDP, NNPP, and now ADC, NDC. The plan is to weaken every alternative so no one can challenge them,” he said.
He also referenced a public statement by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. “Who once said publicly at the birthday celebration of Hon Leke Abejide, “to go and scatter the party and nothing will happen.” That statement shows the intent behind these court cases,” Ismael alleged.
“The Supreme Court has spoken. The world is watching Justice Lifu. It is no longer a secret that he is an ally of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, and he is always ruling in his favour and against the opposition parties,” Ismael further alleged.
“We advise the FCT High Court not to yield or succumb to pressure from the ruling party because the consequences would be better imagined,” he added.
Ismael noted that only last week, a group known as Grassroots Mobilization Network GMN said they have no confidence in the FCT High Court and Justice Lifu, in a statement signed by its spokesman Peter Emeka.
He called on well meaning Nigerians to caution the FCT High Court not to truncate democracy, saying such actions will spell doom for the country.