The Obidient Movement, a support group of the former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the Supreme Court to swiftly deliver judgement in the appeal filed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi, a former candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, is now in ADC and hopes to seek the party’s ticket in the 2027 presidential election.
Saturday Telegraph had earlier reported that the apex court last Wednesday reserved judgement in the appeal filed by Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC and another appeal by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Obidient Movement, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, reminded the Supreme Court justices that justice delayed is “democracy denied.”
According to him, the current leadership vacuum in ADC has left thousands of party faithful in a state of confusion, adding that a significant number of the party’s supporters who look at ADC as a credible alternative stand the risk of disenfranchisement in the 2027 general elections.
”The apex court is the last refinery of justice, at a time when the political landscape requires absolute clarity.
“Any prolonged delay in pronouncing a final verdict on the ADC leadership crisis provides room for mischief, fuels factionalism, and undermines the preparations for a robust multi-party contest in the coming elections,” Tanko warned.
He noted that the legal battle between the contending factions is no longer a mere internal affair as it has become a matter of national interest, which the apex court should be conscious of in its decisions.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the voting public require a settled leadership to engage with, particularly as primary windows and coalition negotiations begin to take shape.
“We therefore like to make an urgent call to the Supreme Court, requesting an expedited and definitive ruling on the leadership dispute currently paralysing the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” the coordinator pleaded.
He added that as the 2027 electoral cycle approaches, the continued ambiguity surrounding the party’s executive structure threatens not only the internal stability of the ADC but the broader viability of opposition consolidation in Nigeria.
Tanko further argued that a swift and clear pronouncement from the Supreme Court will stabilise the political atmosphere and allow the ADC and the wider opposition movement to focus on the essential task of nation-building.
”We remain confident in the wisdom of the apex court and trust that the judiciary will remain the steadfast guardian of our democratic process,” he added.
