David Mark: Judiciary, Not ADC, to Be Tried Over Deregistration Decision

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has stated that the Nigerian judiciary—not the ADC—is currently being scrutinised over the deregistration of the party and four others.

Speaking on Tuesday at the ADC Strategic Communications Retreat in Abuja, the former Senate President criticised Justice Peter Lifu’s handling of the matter, calling recent judicial actions unprecedented.

Mark said that, contrary to public perception, the ADC is not the institution under review.

“The ADC is not on trial. Rather, it is the judiciary that is on trial and the nation is waiting to see how the National Judicial Council (NJC) is going to handle this precarious situation,” he said.

A statement signed by his Media Adviser, Kola Ologbondiyan, recorded Mark’s concern over what he described as unusual judicial conduct. He said it was inconceivable that Justice Lifu—or any judge—would allow himself to be used for what he termed a “hatchet job,” even to the point of ignoring a Court of Appeal order to stay proceedings in the case.

Mark also criticised what he called contradictory orders by Justice Lifu, alleging that the judge had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the ADC dead and, within 24 hours, put the same party on trial in the Nafiu Gombe case, which Mark presided over on Tuesday.

“It is strange that a judge can order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pronounce a party dead and in less than 24 hours put the same party on trial,” he said.

Despite the controversy, the ADC chairman urged party members not to be discouraged, attributing the developments to alleged machinations by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Like I have said previously, our members should not worry about the shenanigans of the ruling party. We will go through all these turbulence because we are up to the task. By the time we are through all these, ADC will come out stronger,” he said.

Mark also accused the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to distract the opposition, claiming that the APC government was “sinking.”

Addressing participants at the retreat, the former Senate President charged the party’s communication strategists to craft messages that could persuade members of the APC, including President Tinubu, to support the ADC.

The Federal High Court recently ordered the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties, a decision that has sparked strong reactions from the affected parties and reignited debates over the independence of the judiciary and the nation’s democratic process.