The delay in dispensing with the case over the leadership tussle in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is unsettling the members of the party, with barely a few weeks left to the end of period slated for primaries. The party’s lawyer, yesterday, wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, urging the Supreme Court to deliver judgement in the leadership tussle before it.

The ADC is seen as the major opposition political party that is ready to field a formidable candidate to contest against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At a recent meeting of opposition figures in the country, the ADC said it was ready to enter into alliance with other opposition parties to produce a sole candidate against that of the APC, where President Bola Tinubu is expected to contest.

Key members of the party alleged that there’s a plot to deliver judgment on the 5th of May.

National coordinator of the Obidient Movement, a key component of the ADC, Yunusa Tanko, in statement said depending on the outcome, the plan is to refer the matter back to the High Court on the 5th of May.

“The opposition will then have only three working days (6th, 7th, and 8th) to take a decision, with the 9th and 10th falling on the weekend and marking the deadline for submission to INEC.

“This appears to be an orchestrated move by anti-democratic and centrifugal forces against one person, His Excellency Peter Obi,” he stated.

ADC writes CJN for quick dispensation of case

The David Mark-led ADC, yesterday, formally wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging the Supreme Court to deliver judgment in the pending leadership tussle case.

The party explained that its appeal to the CJN and the apex court became imperative because it doesn’t want to suffer “irreparable harm” that would deter it from fielding candidates for the 2027 general elections.

In the letter, dated April 28, which was received by the office of the CJN, the ADC, through its lawyers, said its chances of fielding candidates should not be jeopardised with the judgment delay because there is a period allowed by the Electoral Act to field candidates.

Daily Trust reports that the Supreme Court had on April 22 reserved judgment in the ADC leadership tussle till a date that would be communicated to parties involved.

A five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Garba Mohammed reserved its verdict shortly after lawyers representing parties adopted their briefs of argument for and against the appeal.

Expectations were high that barring any hitches the jugdement would be delivered this week. But as at yesterday, the fears heightened when no communication had been received from the apex court.

Sensing danger in further delay, the party raised a concern that it would not be able to participate in the forthcoming general elections if the judgment is not delivered on time.

In a Save-Our-Soul letter to the CJN by its lead counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Shuaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the party specifically said it would have no role to play in the 2027 general elections unless the judgment is delivered within three days starting from today (Tuesday).

The petition reads in part: “We are counsel to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the 2:4 Respondent in the above mentioned Appeal.

“My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22 April, 2026 and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court.

“However, My Lord, we are most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously having regard that INEC, the 4th Respondent in the said Appeal purportedly, acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 acted to remove or de-recognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment even though the ADC remains a recognized registered political party in Nigeria.

“My Lord, we also respectfully draw Your Lordship’s attention to the INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections and the activities in readiness which have already commenced.

“My Lord, the ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 General Elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant Appeal.

“Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Elections.

“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.

“We are equally aware that justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied. The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance”.

When Daily Trust reached out to the Supreme Court for any update on the matter, the Director of Information at the apex court, Dr Festus Akande, said he is not aware of any date for the judgement.

Atiku, Prof Kari, CSOs express concern over disenfranchisement

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and presidential hopeful on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said democracy is now facing an existential threat in the country.

Reacting to the letter written to the CJN, Atiku lamented that the integrity of the 2027 general elections is in serious jeopardy.

The ADC presidential front runner in a post on X said, “It is increasingly evident that Nigeria’s democracy, and indeed the integrity of the 2027 general elections is in serious jeopardy. Democracy itself is now facing an existential threat.”

Atiku, however, said, “I do not want to believe that the judiciary, long regarded as the last hope of the common man, would align with the ruling APC in any effort that could undermine or destroy our democratic foundations.”