Members of the African Democratic Congress have protested at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged delay in releasing the Certified True Copy of the judgment that nullified the party’s National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark.
The protesters called on the National Judicial Council to intervene, accusing the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, of withholding the judgment delivered on November 5, thereby preventing them from pursuing an appeal.
Speaking during Wednesday’s protest, a former Acting Chairman of the ADC in the Federal Capital Territory, Yusuf Shehu Tijani, described the ruling as unjust and demanded the immediate release of its certified copy.
He said, “Our reason for coming here today is what Justice Lifu is doing. He is holding on to the sham judgment he said he passed. He should send the CTC, so that we can get it and appeal the judgment.”
Tijani also questioned the ruling, arguing that the Supreme Court had already affirmed Mark’s leadership of the party.
He called on the NJC to intervene, insisting that the protesters were seeking access to the judgment to exercise their constitutional right to appeal.
The demonstration followed a November 10 petition submitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, by members of the ADC Candidates’ Forum.
In the petition signed by Audu Aliyu on behalf of the candidates, the group said its lawyers applied for the certified copy immediately after the judgment was delivered and paid the required fees.
However, it alleged that the document remained unavailable five days after the ruling, despite repeated visits to the court registry.
The petition stated, “We disagree with the judgment. We have a constitutional right to appeal it. But we cannot appeal what we do not have.
“As at today, 10th November, 2026, five (5) days after judgment, the CTC has NOT been released to us.”
The candidates further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress was putting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission to implement the judgment despite the pending request for its certified copy.
They argued that the delay violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly Section 294(1), which addresses the delivery of court decisions and access to copies by parties.
The group also cited Sections 241 and 242, which provide for appeals against decisions of the Federal High Court.
Warning that the delay could undermine their right to challenge the ruling before the election timetable expires, the petitioners said, “Democracy dies not by coup, but by Registry delay.”
They consequently asked the Chief Judge to direct the court registrar to release the document within 24 hours of receiving the petition.
The November 5 judgment nullified Mark’s emergence as ADC National Chairman and invalidated decisions taken under his leadership, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Lifu also directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions reached at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party from the North-East, who argued that he was entitled to assume the leadership following the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
The ADC subsequently filed a notice of appeal on November 6 and applied for a stay of execution, urging INEC not to take steps that could affect the outcome of the appeal.
