Judiciary, Not ADC, Is on Trial Over Deregistration Crisis — David Mark


 

By Abdulahi Musa 


 National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Senate President Senator David Mark, has declared that the Nigerian judiciary, rather than the ADC, is currently facing public scrutiny over the controversy surrounding the deregistration of the party and four others.


Speaking on Tuesday at the ADC Strategic Communications Retreat in Abuja, Mark criticized recent judicial actions involving the party, particularly those of Justice Peter Lifu, describing the developments as unprecedented and troubling for Nigeria’s democratic process.


According to him, contrary to public perception, the ADC is not the institution on trial.


> “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,” Mark stated.


The former Senate President expressed concern over what he described as unusual judicial conduct, questioning how a judge could allegedly disregard an order of the Court of Appeal directing a stay of proceedings.


Mark further alleged that Justice Lifu issued contradictory orders by directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to effectively pronounce the ADC defunct, only to preside over a matter involving the same party less than 24 hours later.


> “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 legal challenges, Mark urged ADC members to remain steadfast, assuring them that the party would overcome what he described as politically motivated obstacles.


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


The ADC chairman also accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to distract opposition parties, claiming that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was struggling and seeking to weaken alternative political platforms.


Addressing communication strategists at the retreat, Mark challenged them to craft compelling messages capable of attracting supporters from across the political divide, including members of the APC.


The controversy follows a recent Federal High Court ruling ordering the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties, a decision that has sparked debate over judicial independence, electoral justice, and the future of multiparty democracy in Nigeria.


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