All Eyes On The High Court As ADC Supporters Demand Ballot Access

Supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have swarmed the entrance of the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding that the judiciary protect opposition parties from being stifled ahead of future elections.

The demonstration coincided with the resumption of the suit between Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and a rival camp led by a former deputy national chairman of the party, Nafiu Bala-Gombe.

Demonstrators carried placards urging the court not to become a tool for distracting the opposition.

Recall that Justice Peter Lifu had on Wednesday ordered for an accelerated hearing on the leadership tussle.

The suit stems from a protracted internal crisis over the control of the ADC leadership structure. In April, the Supreme Court set aside an earlier Court of Appeal order that had mandated parties to maintain the status quo. That appellate order had previously been used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-recognize David Mark’s leadership.

However, in a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the apex court remitted the case back to the Federal High Court for an expeditious hearing of the substantive suit filed by Bala-Gombe, which challenges the legality of the current party leadership.

Following the Supreme Court’s directive, INEC restored Senator David Mark as the National Chairman of the ADC and reinstated other members of his National Working Committee on its portal.