ADC Youth Wing Petitions NJC to Deregister Party and Remove Lifu

The National Youth Wing of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has submitted a formal petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) demanding the removal of Justice Peter Odo Lifu from “any and all adjudicatory matters, reviews, or decision‑making roles concerning the ADC.”

The petition, dated 18 June 2026, was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NJC and signed by the ADC’s national youth leader, Comrade Balarabe Rufai.

While presenting the petition to the media in front of the ADC National Secretariat, Comrade Rufai—represented by Comrade Ibrahim Garba Wala—claimed that attempts were made to prevent the youth wing from submitting the petition to the NJC. He said that all roads leading to the NJC were barricaded by heavily armed security agents on Thursday, forcing the petition to be presented publicly.

The petition states: “We demand the immediate, total removal of Hon. Justice Peter Odo Lifu from any and all adjudicatory matters, reviews, or decision‑making roles concerning the ADC. Furthermore, given his pattern of flagrant judicial rascality, we explicitly demand that the National Judicial Council recommend his absolute dismissal from the Nigerian judiciary to preserve the fading credibility of the bench.”

It continues: “Our democratic architecture is under a coordinated assault by compromised custodians of the law. Under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, Hon. Justice Peter Odo Lifu delivered a highly controversial ruling ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties. This judgment is not an honest legal error; it is a calculated, politically motivated act designed to shrink the democratic space in Nigeria and artificially consolidate a two‑party monopoly.”

Rufai lamented what he described as “legal distortions and judicial rascality tying Justice Lifu to this systemic compromise,” adding that “Justice Lifu brazenly proceeded with this judgment despite a binding Court of Appeal order that explicitly stayed proceedings on this matter, a move that subverts the sacred doctrine of stare decisis and constitutes gross misconduct.”

He said: “The bench looked away as the plaintiffs, the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, clandestinely altered their legal personality midway through the process without a valid court order.”

“While the NJC has previously dismissed certain claims due to standard procedural hurdles, the persistence of these identical accusations across multiple petitions—including those by the Chairman of the Boot Party—proves a systemic erosion of public trust.”

“We cannot watch the political rights of millions of young Nigerians be auctioned off by compromised benches. The continuous involvement of Justice Lifu in ADC affairs completely destroys public trust and makes a mockery of fair hearings. As the protectors of our nation’s future, we declare that when the bench compromises its integrity, the youth will become the courtroom of public conscience. The ballot box belongs to us, and we will not allow any court to rob us of our political expression.”

“Until the Council acts to protect institutional integrity, enforces discipline, completely recuses this individual from our affairs, and begins the process for his immediate sack from the bench. Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Nigerian youth during a live protest.”

This petition follows Justice Lifu’s judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister five opposition parties, including the ADC. After widespread condemnation, the appeal court issued a stay of execution of the judgment.