The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidating the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate.
Obi warned that the ruling could create political uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that developments affecting political parties and their candidates could undermine voters’ choices.
The former Anambra State governor stated this on Thursday in a post on his verified X account while reacting to the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court had nullified the Mark-led ADC leadership and invalidated decisions taken under the leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The ruling also affected the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, as well as the nominations of other candidates presented by the ADC for the 2027 elections.
Expressing concern over the judgment, Obi said he received the development with shock, describing it as unsettling, particularly with the general elections approaching.
“I have received with shock the news of an order by the Federal High Court in Abuja nullifying the emergence of the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress and all the actions he has taken. This is unsettling and surprising,” he said.
Although he acknowledged the authority of the judiciary to determine disputes, Obi argued that certainty surrounding political parties and their candidates was essential to a credible electoral process.
“I do not challenge the ruling of the court. The court of law is constituted to determine disputes according to the law.
“My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty. It is not good to have too many uncertainties about candidates and parties a few weeks before a presidential election,” he added.
The NDC candidate alleged that the instability affecting opposition parties was being engineered by the ruling party, linking the development to the leadership crisis that previously rocked the Labour Party, where he contested the 2023 presidential election.
He accused the ruling party of deploying similar tactics to restrict civic space and frustrate opposition activities ahead of the next general elections.
Obi maintained that democracy should guarantee the electorate the freedom to determine who governs them through the ballot rather than allowing political uncertainties to undermine their choices.
“One mark of democracy is that at all times, it is voters and not courts that choose leaders. I trust in the judiciary. As a public officer, I have shown deep respect for the judiciary,” he stated.
He urged political stakeholders to protect democratic institutions by ensuring that opposition parties and their candidates were not deliberately weakened ahead of elections.
Making reference to recent military takeovers in some West African countries, Obi said Nigeria must strengthen its democratic institutions and safeguard opposition politics.
“The sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, in the midst of encroaching military rule in West Africa, should strengthen our resolve to protect opposition politics and not stamp out opposition parties,” he said.
The former Anambra governor added that he had promised to pay particular attention to the stability of opposition parties if elected President, insisting that their candidates should not be persecuted or forced out of electoral contests.
Obi’s reaction comes amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. He and Atiku were among opposition figures who joined the ADC coalition in 2025 in an effort to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
However, Obi and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, left the ADC in May 2026 to join the NDC, citing concerns over internal party issues.
Obi subsequently emerged as the NDC’s presidential candidate, with Kwankwaso as his running mate, while Atiku emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate in May 2026.
The legal dispute followed a suit filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the party’s caretaker committee assumed leadership.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership.
In its judgment, the court held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated provisions of the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The ADC has rejected the judgment and announced plans to appeal, while Atiku has also vowed to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
