The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirming David Mark as its National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, describing the decision as a validation of its leadership and a reaffirmation of the rule of law.
The party, in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the judgment confirmed that the earlier de-recognition of its leadership by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was flawed.
Abdullahi said the unanimous decision of the five-man panel of the apex court had strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary and democratic institutions.
He added that the verdict had effectively put to rest all disputes surrounding the leadership of the party, affirming the legitimacy of its structures across the country.
The ADC, however, warned that the judgment should not be seen as the end of efforts to safeguard democracy, noting that the circumstances leading to the case revealed “a troubling pattern of interference and attempts to weaken opposition voices.”
“The ADC will not be intimidated, distracted, or silenced. We remain committed to offering Nigerians a credible alternative focused on ending insecurity, reducing the cost of living and creating jobs,” the statement read.
The party urged its members and other democratic stakeholders to remain vigilant, stressing that democracy must be sustained through active participation and constant resistance to actions capable of undermining the will of the people.
It also renewed its call for the resignation of the Chairman of INEC, Joash Amupitan, citing concerns over the commission’s role in the leadership dispute.
According to the party, the issues surrounding the matter pointed to either a grave error of judgment or deliberate bad faith, both of which, it said, had undermined the integrity expected of the electoral body.
The ADC further called on INEC to immediately restore recognition of the David Mark-led leadership on its official platforms and in all formal communications.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to defending democracy and promoting justice in Nigeria.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
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