Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has urged the African Democratic Congress to focus on appealing the court judgment nullifying its leadership rather than issuing threats capable of destabilising the country.
Sani, in a post on his X account on Thursday, said the party should prepare for the legal battle instead of threatening Nigeria with “brimstones and fire”.
He attributed the ADC’s current predicament to its decision to take over an existing political party with internal challenges rather than registering a new one.
“The ADC should get ready to appeal their case instead of threatening the country with Brimstones and fire. This is the price they have to pay for taking over a troubled party instead of registering a new one,” Sani wrote.
His comment followed a judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which on Thursday nullified the leadership of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated decisions taken under the leadership, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the ADC following the resignation of its former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
The court held that the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker committee violated the party’s constitution and relevant legal provisions.
It also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognise decisions taken at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025.
The ruling has intensified the ADC’s leadership crisis and raised concerns over the fate of its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party has rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the appellate court, while urging its members to remain calm and law-abiding.
Sani’s remarks underscore the political and legal challenges confronting the ADC following the coalition of opposition figures who moved into the party as a platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming elections.
