The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared its intention to challenge the recent judgment of the Federal High Court ordering its deregistration, insisting that the party remains legally and politically strong despite the ruling.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed that the party would immediately file an appeal at the Court of Appeal to contest the judgment.
According to Abdullahi, the ADC is not intimidated by the court’s decision and is fully prepared to pursue all available legal avenues to defend its status as a registered political party in Nigeria.
“By tomorrow morning (Tuesday), ADC will be in the Court of Appeal,” Abdullahi stated. “Ours is a party that was born out of adversity, and we are accustomed to challenges like these. We are not distracted by them.”
He emphasized that despite facing numerous challenges over the years, the party has continued to grow and strengthen its structures across the country. He further argued that the ADC had conducted one of the most comprehensive internal democratic exercises ever witnessed among political parties in Nigeria.
“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,” he added.
The ADC spokesperson’s reaction comes in the wake of a judgment delivered on Monday by Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC, Accord Party, and three other political parties over alleged constitutional violations.
In addition to the deregistration order, the court instructed INEC to cease recognising the affected political parties and barred them from participating in activities related to the 2027 general elections pending compliance with constitutional requirements.
The ruling has generated significant debate within Nigeria’s political landscape, with observers suggesting that the outcome of the appeal could have far-reaching implications for the country’s multiparty democratic system ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Political analysts are now closely monitoring the legal battle, as the Court of Appeal’s decision may determine whether the affected parties retain their place in Nigeria’s political arena or face exclusion from future electoral processes.
As the legal contest begins, attention remains focused on both the judiciary and INEC, while members and supporters of the affected parties await the next chapter in what could become a landmark political case.
