‘Stop Blaming Us’, APC Tells Atiku, ADC Over Court Judgment

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to resolve the party’s internal leadership crisis instead of blaming the ruling party and the judiciary for the consequences of the dispute.

The APC also questioned the ADC’s capacity to govern Nigeria, arguing that a political party struggling to manage its internal affairs should not expect Nigerians to entrust it with the responsibility of running the country.

The party’s position followed a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that nullified the leadership of the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated decisions taken by the faction, including its planned processes for selecting candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the remarks in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Morka said the ruling party was neither a party to the legal dispute nor responsible for the crisis rocking the opposition party. He described the controversy as an internal matter involving ADC members and leaders, insisting that the party should address its disagreements rather than accuse the APC of interference.

He also accused Atiku of attempting to take control of the ADC to advance his presidential ambition, describing the alleged move as an effort to satisfy what he called the former vice-president’s “quixotic presidential ambition”.

The APC spokesperson urged the ADC leadership to stop what he described as baseless accusations and concentrate on resolving its internal disagreements. He also challenged the party to pursue the appropriate legal process if it disagreed with the court’s decision.

Morka further accused the ADC of displaying double standards in its reaction to judicial decisions, arguing that the party should respect court rulings rather than attack the judiciary whenever a judgment goes against its interests.

The controversy followed a judgment delivered on Thursday, November 5, by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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The suit was filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the leadership structure that emerged after the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe argued that he was entitled to assume the party’s leadership position following Nwosu’s departure and questioned the legitimacy of the leadership arrangement that produced the Mark-led faction.

In its ruling, the court upheld the plaintiff’s claims and nullified the leadership structure headed by Mark. It also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise decisions taken at the ADC National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025, and subsequent actions arising from the disputed leadership arrangement.

The decision affected the party’s planned primary processes and the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections, including Atiku’s emergence as its presidential candidate.

However, the judgment has been challenged by the ADC, which rejected the court’s decision and moved to contest it through the appellate process.

The party filed an appeal and applied for a stay of execution on Friday, November 6, in a bid to prevent the implementation of the judgment while the legal challenge is pending.

The ADC has maintained that an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court had affirmed the Mark-led leadership structure. It has also questioned the circumstances surrounding the latest ruling, arguing that one court should not overturn the decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

However, the two cases arose from separate suits and legal challenges, a distinction that has featured in the debate surrounding the conflicting decisions.

The latest judgment has raised fresh questions about the ADC’s ability to participate fully in the 2027 elections if the ruling remains in force. Its implications for the party’s candidates and leadership structure will depend on the outcome of the appeal and any further judicial orders.

Atiku, meanwhile, has insisted that he remains in the presidential race and will be on the ballot in 2027. The former vice-president has accused the Tinubu-led administration and the ruling APC of using political and legal manoeuvres to frustrate opposition efforts.

The APC has denied responsibility for the ADC dispute, maintaining that the crisis originated within the opposition party.

The disagreement has deepened uncertainty within the ADC, which has positioned itself as a platform for opposition politicians seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in the next general election.

For now, the legal battle over the party’s leadership and candidate-selection process remains unresolved, with the appeal expected to play a major role in determining whether the Mark-led faction can retain control of the party and whether Atiku’s presidential ambition will proceed under the ADC platform.