The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced plans to challenge the Federal High Court judgment ordering its deregistration, insisting it will immediately seek redress at the Court of Appeal.
Speaking on Monday during Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC remains unfazed by the ruling and is prepared to pursue all legal avenues to overturn the decision.
Abdullahi stated that the party has overcome numerous challenges since its formation and would not allow the latest development to derail its political ambitions.
According to him, the ADC has built a strong nationwide structure and successfully conducted what he described as one of the most extensive internal democratic exercises ever undertaken by a political party in Nigeria.
“By tomorrow morning (Tuesday), ADC will be in the Court of Appeal. Ours is a party that was born out of adversity, and we are accustomed to challenges like these,” he said.
“We are not distracted by them. Despite the obstacles, we have built a formidable political party and carried out one of the most ambitious internal democratic exercises in the country.
“What we achieved during our primaries is unprecedented and sets a standard that no other political party in Nigeria has matched.”
The party’s reaction comes after Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC, the Accord Party and three other political parties over alleged violations of constitutional provisions.
The court further ordered INEC to withdraw recognition of the affected parties and barred them from participating in activities connected to the 2027 general elections until they comply with constitutional requirements.
Despite the ruling, ADC leaders insist the party will vigorously contest the judgment and remain active in the political process while the legal battle unfolds.
Last month, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the presidential candidate of ADC.
Recently, the ADC announced the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as Atiku’s running mate. The court ruling has blurred Atiku’s path to the 2027 presidency.
