Appeal Court Ruling: No change to ADC leadership

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the Court of Appeal ruling in the ongoing leadership dispute within the party effectively leaves its current leadership intact, urging members and the public to disregard misleading interpretations of the judgment.

The ADC gave the explanation in a statement on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in Abuja.

The coalition party urged its members not to be misled by misinterpretations of court decision.

The ADC explained further that the appellate court dismissed the appeal on procedural grounds and did not issue any order affecting the positions of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

The party therefore reassured members that its national leadership remains fully in place.

The statement by Abdullahi reads, “The attention of members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been drawn to reports concerning the recent decision of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria in an appeal filed by the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, in connection with the ongoing suit instituted against the party leadership at the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

“Having carefully studied the judgment, we wish to state unequivocally that the Court of Appeal did not determine the substantive dispute regarding the leadership of the ADC.

‘The case challenging the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary is still pending before the Federal High Court and has not yet been heard or decided on its merits.

“Importantly, the Court of Appeal did not grant any relief in favour of the plaintiff, nor did it issue any order affecting the leadership structure of the party.

“On the contrary, the court ordered that parties should maintain the status quo, meaning that the current state of affairs within the party should remain unchanged pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“Members of the African Democratic Congress are therefore advised not to panic or be misled by misinterpretations of the judgment.

“The ruling of the Court of Appeal is purely procedural and does not affect the legitimacy or tenure of the current national leadership of the party.

“The party remains united and focused despite the antics of anti-democratic forces bent on imposing a one-party rule on Nigeria”, the statement concluded.