Amaechi Alleges Judge Withholding ADC Judgment

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja of withholding the judgment that nullified the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership. The judgment, delivered on November 5, affected the party's preparations for the 2027 general election. Amaechi alleged that despite repeated applications by the party's lawyers, the judge has yet to release the certified true copy of the judgment.

The delay in obtaining the judgment is preventing the ADC from properly examining the court's decision and pursuing its appeal. Amaechi, who is the ADC vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election, expressed his displeasure during an appearance on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily. He accused the judge of making it difficult for the party to obtain the document required to advance its legal challenge at the Court of Appeal.

The ADC had fulfilled the necessary requirements for obtaining the judgment, including filing a notice of appeal and an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgment. However, without the complete court document, the party's legal team faces difficulties in examining the specific reasoning behind the decision and preparing its arguments before the Court of Appeal. The party's Presidential Campaign Council also complained that the delay was affecting its ability to respond effectively to the ruling.

The judgment nullified the leadership structure associated with former Senate President David Mark and decisions connected to the disputed National Executive Committee meeting. The ruling also affected the process through which former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The ADC leadership has continued to reject the November 5 ruling, insisting that the party has grounds to challenge the decision.

Amaechi questioned aspects of the proceedings that led to the decision, expressing concerns about how the issue of jurisdiction was handled during the case. He also wondered why the party's lawyers had not taken certain steps to challenge the court's approach during the proceedings. The former governor suggested that opposition parties in Nigeria had repeatedly encountered difficulties whenever they appeared to be making significant political progress.

The crisis within the ADC originated from a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, who challenged the legitimacy of the David Mark-led leadership. The disagreement has since developed into a major internal crisis, with competing claims over the party's leadership and the validity of decisions taken by its national organs. The party has urged its members and supporters not to allow the leadership dispute to distract them from their political activities.

The ADC leadership has expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal will overturn the judgment when the matter is properly presented before it. The party has encouraged its members to remain calm and continue preparations for the 2027 elections while the legal process continues. The handling of politically sensitive cases is important to public confidence in the country's democratic institutions, especially as political parties begin preparations for another general election.

Key points

• The judge's alleged withholding of the judgment is preventing the ADC from pursuing its appeal.
• The delay is affecting the party's ability to respond effectively to the ruling.
• The crisis within the ADC has thrown the party's political structure and preparations for the 2027 elections into uncertainty.