Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has termed the Federal High Court decision ordering the party’s deregistration as a politically motivated measure aimed at undermining the opposition and eroding public trust in the court.
Abdullahi made the claim in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, in response to a verdict by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties.
The court determined that the involved parties failed to meet constitutional standards for ongoing registration and had violated Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution.
However, Abdullahi challenged the verdict, claiming that the legal action against the ADC was motivated by political concerns rather than legal ones.
“We actually don’t think it’s legal. What is unfolding is political. The court is just the vehicle for promoting the political agenda,” he said.
According to him, the consequences of the decision go beyond the ADC’s fortunes and affect the legitimacy of the country’s legal system.
He said that the legal action was prompted by the recent emergence of former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as the party’s vice presidential candidate and that the move was designed to undermine the momentum generated by the announcement.
Abdullahi also questioned the proceedings’ legitimacy, alleging that the Court of Appeal had previously asked the Federal High Court to adjourn action on the case until October 27.
He contended that proceeding with the lawsuit despite such an order created major problems regarding judicial hierarchy and due process.
“The Court of Appeal has ordered the Federal High Court to stay proceedings on this matter until October 27,” he said, describing the development as inconsistent with established legal principles.
The ADC spokesman further denied that the party failed to meet the constitutional or electoral conditions for retaining its registration.
He stated that INEC, which is a party to the matter, had previously notified the court via an affidavit that the ADC did not fit under the list of political parties subject to deregistration.
According to him, the electoral commission recognized that the party met all constitutional and electoral requirements for its continuing existence.
Abdullahi stated that the ADC is still a legally recognized political party and questioned the rationale for seeking its deregistration after more than two decades of political activity.
He also stated that the party would continue to defend its legal position and oppose any efforts to remove it from Nigeria’s political landscape.
