Supporters and candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday staged a protest at the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the certified true copy of a judgment that nullified the party’s leadership led by former Senate President, David Mark.
The protesters, operating under the Forum of ADC Candidates, said the delay in releasing the judgment was preventing them from exercising their constitutional right to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on November 5, nullified the emergence of the Mark-led National Working Committee and invalidated decisions taken by the leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other party officials assumed leadership of the ADC.
The demonstrators gathered at the court’s headquarters in Abuja around 9am, displaying placards, including one demanding the immediate release of the certified copy of the judgment.
They also chanted slogans calling for the release of the document and questioned the circumstances surrounding the court’s decision.
In a petition dated November 10 and addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, the forum alleged that its lawyers applied for the certified true copy immediately after the judgment was delivered and paid the required fees.
It claimed that five days after the ruling, the document had yet to be released, despite repeated visits to the court registry.
The petition, signed by Audu Aliyu on behalf of the forum, urged the Chief Judge to direct the Registrar to make the judgment available within 24 hours.
Protesters seek NJC intervention
Speaking during the protest, a former acting chairman of the ADC in the Federal Capital Territory, Yusuf Shehu Tijani, called on the National Judicial Council to intervene over the alleged delay.
Tijani questioned the judgment, claiming that the Supreme Court had earlier affirmed Mark’s leadership of the party.
He argued that the protesters needed the certified copy to enable them to approach the appellate court and seek a review of the decision.
The forum also accused the court registry’s delay of threatening its members’ constitutional right of appeal.
In its petition, the group cited Sections 241 and 242 of the 1999 Constitution, which provide for appeals against decisions of the Federal High Court.
It also relied on Section 294(1), arguing that parties to a case should have access to the written judgment delivered by the court.
The protesters warned that withholding the document until relevant election deadlines had passed could render their right of appeal ineffective.
They further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission to act on the judgment despite the failure to release its certified copy. The APC has consistently denied interfering in the affairs of opposition parties or the judiciary.
The forum said it was not protesting against the judiciary but seeking access to the court’s decision so it could pursue its legal options.
INEC awaits official court document
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said it would not act on reports circulating on social media concerning the judgment.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed that the commission had yet to receive the certified true copy and would await the official document before taking any decision.
He explained that the judgment would first be examined by the commission’s relevant department before being presented for consideration.
The ADC candidates and their supporters said they remained determined to challenge the ruling once the certified copy became available.
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