The African Democratic Congress has said the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on Monday in Abuja on the party’s congresses will not affect its direct primaries or the emergence of its candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The party also disclosed that it had commenced the process of challenging the judgment at the Supreme Court, describing the appellate court’s decision as legally unsustainable.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi.

The development comes amid ongoing legal disputes over the party’s internal leadership and congresses, with the ADC seeking to reassure members and supporters that its preparations for the 2027 elections remain on course despite the court ruling.

Addressing concerns over the judgment, the party said, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) notes the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday in a matter relating to party congresses for the election of ward, local government and state executive committees of the Party.

“We wish to assure members of the Party and the general public that this judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the Party’s candidates have emerged at all levels.

The party further disclosed that it had already initiated legal steps to challenge the judgment, while expressing confidence in the dissenting opinion delivered by one of the appellate justices.

The statement added, “The Party has already commenced the process of appealing the judgment, which we respectfully disagree with and consider to be legally unsustainable.

“We also note the dissenting judgment of the presiding Justice, which, in our view, more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the Party’s position.”

The ADC urged its members and supporters to remain calm and focused despite the legal challenge, insisting that the party remained committed to its political objectives.

It stated, “We urge all Party members and the millions of our supporters to remain calm, confident and focused.

“The African Democratic Congress remains committed to the task of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative and will continue to pursue that mission in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.”

PUNCH Online reports that the Appeal Court judgment is the latest development in a series of legal disputes surrounding the ADC’s internal leadership and congresses ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections. The litigation has fuelled rival claims to the party’s leadership, even as the party insists that its recognised national leadership remains intact.

The judgment comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with the ADC positioning itself as a major opposition platform following the entry of several prominent political figures into the party.

The leadership has repeatedly maintained that its direct primary process remains valid and that its candidates emerged in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

The latest statement also follows recent controversies over claims by a rival faction that it had uploaded candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s nomination portal.

Both the ADC leadership and INEC have dismissed the claim, with the electoral commission stating that it recognises only the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee and has not granted portal access to any rival group. (The PUNCH)