By CHARLES IWUOHA

A Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has mocked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, over Thursday’s judgment of the Supreme Court, which had validated Senator David Mark, as the auth’ntic National Chairman of ADC.

Eze, expressed profound gratitude to God for causing the Supreme Court to save democracy in Nigeria, in view of the negative perception of many Nigerians that the Judiciary has been captured by the Presidency.

Eze lampooned the Attorney General, INEC Chairman and Wike, saying they should bury their heads in shame for posing as clogs to survival of democracy in Nigeria.

“Some of the Judges allegedly being influenced by the FCT Minister are on the verge of derailing Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.

“Presently, majority of right-thinking Nigerians are not happy with what has become of the Judiciary.

“The President Bola Tinubu led APC government has messed up the Judiciary. Some Judges and Courts are allegedly being systematically used to destabilize leadership of political parties, ahead the 2027 general elections.

“Even when all hopes were lost, going by what has been coming out of the courts in political matters, especially when it involves opposition political parties, Thursday’s judgement from the Supreme Court was an act of God.

“We thank God Almighty for causing the Supreme Court to reverse that shameful, perverted and anti-democratic judgement given by the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal, and that beer parlour interpretation and decision of INEC in respect of our party, the ADC,” Eze stated.

In a statement on Friday, Eze expressed optimism that with the verdict of the Apex court, validating David Mark as National Chairman of ADC, “the time is up for Tinubu and his undemocratic elements in Aso Rock to head back to Lagos”.

“With Thursday’s verdict rescuing ADC from annihilation, it is time for Tinubu to start preparing his handover note and movement back to Lagos State,” Eze said.

Now that the headship tussle is over, Eze advised the ADC to focus on its core role as a leading opposition party in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

He noted that stability at the top echelon of the party will lead to better organization, clearer messaging, and stronger participation in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Significantly, the public affairs commentator posited that the judgement will contribute to Nigeria’s growing body of case laws on political party administration, and urged the ADC to remain focused in its mission to wrest power from the APC due to bad governance.

“It underscores the judiciary’s role in interpreting party constitutions and ensuring compliance, which may influence how future disputes are handled,” Eze said.

He therefore commended the panel for standing on the side of justice, noting that any contrary pronouncement on the ADC purported leadership issue would have further dragged the Judiciary into the murky waters of arbitral corruption.

“We thank God for using the Supreme Court to rightly affirm Senator David Mark as the duly recognized National Chairman of the ADC.

“This landmark judgement has finally ended all leadership issues orchestrated by enemies of democracy in our great party.

“It has also reinforced our commitment to the rule of law, internal democracy, and constitutional order.

“The verdict of the Supreme Court is a lucid affirmation of due process and the supremacy of lawful procedures in the administration of political parties.

“Obviously, this judgement has paved the way for cohesion, unity, stability, and effective leadership within the ADC.

“With this matter now conclusively rested even though it ought not to have been justiciable ab initio, being an internal affair of a political party, we call on all our members, stakeholders, and supporters to rally round the David Mark led leadership of ADC to collectively reposition the party for greater national relevance, viability and visibility.

“By His grace, and with the support of Nigerians, the ADC is committed to providing credible, purposeful and people oriented leadership, promote democratic values, and offering Nigerians a viable political alternative rooted in integrity, transparency, and service,” Eze stated.

He assured Nigerians of ADC’s continued commitment to nation-building and the deepening of democracy in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Eze has called for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, for his alleged open display of partisanship in the leadership issue of ADC.

He said: "As an election umpire, the INEC Chairman is supposed to be neutral and not take sides with the ruling party. When has it become the duty of INEC to interpret a court order, talk less of unilaterally derecognizing a political party.

“Honestly, Amupitan has shown elements of bias for the APC, and the best him to do in order not to aid the derailment of Nigeria’s democracy is for him to resign.

“For instance, in the matter of National Rescue Movement (NRM), the court had repeatedly ordered that Chief Edozie Njoku should be recognized as National Chairman, but till now, Amupitan has refused to obey the court order.

“But he was swift to interpret the Court of Appeal order on ADC and immediately decided to remove David Mark’s name from the INEC’s portal. What a bias and double standard.”

“As for the FCT Minister and the AGF, they should bury their heads in shame,” Eze said, adding: “How could an AGF file a respondent brief in court, also seeking the deregistration of some political parties.

“The AGF is for all Nigerians and not APC stooge even though he is serving under the Tinubu government. In matters like this, the AGF should put Nigeria, rule of law and democracy first, before APC.”

Eze described Atiku, Amaechi, OBI, Kwankwaso, David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as Heroes of democracy considering their steadfastness in pursuing this case to this level.

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