The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to undermine opposition politics through judicial interventions following a Federal High Court judgment affecting the party’s leadership and the candidacy of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation in a statement issued on Thursday, describing the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, as a desperate attempt to weaken the opposition and deny Nigerians the opportunity to freely choose their leaders in the forthcoming general elections.

The party linked the timing of the judgment to its recent presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, which it said attracted massive support from Nigerians.

According to the ADC, the judgment came barely 24 hours after the rally, suggesting that the ruling party was unsettled by the growing popularity of the opposition.

“We have reasons to believe that the judgment had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the statement said.

The party argued that the judgment went beyond the political interests of Atiku Abubakar and Senator David Mark, warning that it could affect thousands of ADC candidates seeking elective positions at the local, state and federal levels.

It maintained that the decision raised concerns about the democratic rights of Nigerians and the participation of opposition candidates in the electoral process.

The ADC also faulted the judgment on legal grounds, citing an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, delivered on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.

According to the party, the earlier judgment affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership.

It argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction lacked the authority to review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction.

The party, however, said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the latest judgment to determine its precise terms, scope and consequential orders.

The ADC vowed to challenge the decision through all available legal channels, while warning against what it described as attempts to use judicial controversies to eliminate political competition.

It further cautioned the APC against actions capable of threatening the country’s peace and democratic stability, insisting that the presidency should not be treated as an inheritance.

“If the President thinks he has performed well in office, why is he afraid of competition? If the APC thinks that its policies and candidates are popular, why don’t they subject themselves to free and fair elections?” the statement queried.

The party also called on the judiciary to resist attempts by politicians to use the courts to undermine democratic institutions and pave the way for dictatorship.

It urged its members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that it would pursue all legitimate legal options to address the development.