A support group within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Grassroots for Mobilisation Network (GMN), has called out the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency to respond to the allegation that they are piling pressure on the Supreme Court to give judgement against the ADC before the apex court.
The group’s Spokesperson, Mr Peter Emeka, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, said the APC and the Presidency have explanations to make to Nigerians on the alleged leakage of the Supreme Court’s decision as well as the piling of pressure on the Justices of the Supreme Court to give a disfavourable decision against ADC.
In the statement issued, Emeka noted that “The whole world is watching the ongoing shenanigans about the fate of opposition parties in the country.”
He argued that such weighty allegations “should not be swept under the carpet.
“It is surprising that, up to this moment, the APC and the Presidency have not responded to the allegation, which in itself suggests admission that the information is correct,” he said.
Emeka cited what he called a recent public outcry after “the Presidency ordered a member of the House of Representatives to remain in the party and scatter it.” He described the alleged action as an abuse of office and “a threat to our democracy.”
“If the APC and the Presidency do not come forward and address the allegations of interference, then the country is doomed,” he warned.
Several online platforms reported on Saturday that the Presidency was mounting pressure on Supreme Court justices to alter the judgment in favour of Nafiu Bala, a claimant in the ADC leadership dispute.
Some of the reports further claimed the Presidency is pressuring justices to remit the case to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing a move critics say could stop the ADC from appearing on the ballot for the 2027 general elections.
He said such actions would “lead to the collapse of the judiciary.” He appealed to the international community to intervene over what he described as “an abuse of power and total disregard for the rule of law.”
Several legal experts have cautioned that the judiciary should stay out of political disputes as provided in the Electoral Act. “Internal crisis of any political party is an internal affair of the party, which the Supreme Court has severally dealt with,” Emeka further added, noting that past judgments had held party leadership disputes as non-justiciable.
Efforts to reach the Presidency, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, and the APC for comments were unsuccessful as of press time.
The Supreme Court had earlier reserved judgment in the ADC leadership suit between factions loyal to Sen. David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Nafiu Bala. A date for judgment has not been announced.
