Court Ruling: ADC alleges plot to block participation in 2027 polls + Video
by Adenle Ahmed Abiola · The Eagle OnlineThe African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that a legal challenge against its leadership is a coordinated plot backed by interests within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent the party from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Its National Legal Adviser, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, made the allegations during an interview with Arise News on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Osunbor said the underlying motive of the legal battle is to weaken the party and demoralise Nigerians who are looking towards the ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
This allegation follows a major judicial setback for the opposition party.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, sacked the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC.
The court declared the emergence of the leadership illegal and nullified all actions it had taken, including the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate
Reacting, Osunbor accused interests within the ruling APC of backing the legal challenge, while urging party members and supporters not to be distracted by the court ruling.
“This is an attempt to dampen the morale of Nigerians that are looking to ADC and our presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as someone who will rescue us from the sufferings in the land, the insecurity, the poverty, the neglect, the disrespect for the right of Nigerians to choose their leaders,” he said.
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Osunbor argued that some political interests believed Nigeria’s leadership should be determined by a few individuals using the judiciary and other government institutions rather than through the votes of citizens.
“Democracy is supposed to be a government where you and I will cast vote,” he said.
The ADC legal adviser insisted that the case challenging the David Mark-led leadership was sponsored by interests within the ruling APC.
He suggested that the claimant, Nafiu Bala Gombe, might not have instituted the case without such backing.
“Gombe had resigned. If he wasn’t being sponsored by the ruling party, by people, he may not even have gone to court at all,” Osunbor said.
He also questioned the reassignment of the case from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Peter Lifu, alleging that the process raised concerns about the handling of the matter.
Osunbor maintained that the ultimate objective of the legal challenge was to prevent the ADC from participating fully in the 2027 elections.
“What their target really is the primaries. They don’t want ADC to be able to field a candidate,” he said.
Osunbor said the party had yet to receive the certified true copy of the judgment and would study it before deciding on its next legal steps.
He disclosed that the ADC intended to file a motion for a stay of execution and appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
“First of all, we have to bring a motion for stay of execution,” he said.
Despite the ruling, Osunbor insisted that Atiku’s presidential ticket remained valid, citing previous court decisions which he said had upheld the David Mark-led National Working Committee.
Asked whether the party had an alternative candidate should its appeal fail, he described the question as hypothetical, explaining that the party had not held a formal meeting to consider the judgment.
He urged ADC members and supporters to continue with party activities, insisting that the court ruling should not undermine their confidence in the party.
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