By Abubakar Yunusa
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dino Melaye, has alleged that the party’s political gains in Sokoto State prompted the Federal High Court judgment which nullified the national leadership led by David Mark and the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.
Melaye described the ruling as a reaction to what he called the political tsunami in Sokoto, insisting that the development would not stop the ADC from pursuing its political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He urged party members and Nigerians to disregard the judgment, declaring that neither Atiku nor the ADC could be stopped.
The former Kogi West senator spoke on Thursday during the ADC presidential campaign in Kebbi State.
Melaye also alleged that the party’s campaign team was attacked by security operatives while travelling to the state.
He claimed that more than 100 policemen barricaded their convoy, threw stones and fired tear gas at them.
According to him, the attackers underestimated the political and security backgrounds of the party’s national chairman and presidential candidate.
Melaye said, “While we were coming here, we were barricaded by men in police uniform numbering over 100, throwing stones at us, firing tear gas, but they forgot that the National Chairman of our party is not just an individual but is a general in the Nigerian Army.
“They forgot that our presidential candidate also got police training as a senior Customs officer; they tried to stop us, but can they stop us? Please clap for ADC.”
Reacting to the court ruling, Melaye alleged that it was connected to the political developments in Sokoto State.
He said, “We want to assure Nigerians and the people of Kebbi that you should please ignore the court ruling in Abuja today; that judgment is a reaction to the political tsunami in Sokoto State; it was the tsunami that necessitated the judgment.”
The ADC chieftain also questioned the timing of the court proceedings, alleging that the party received notice of the judgment late at night before its delivery the following morning.
“There was no judgment notice, they sent by 11pm in the night, the judgment will be given in the morning, but they forgot that we have passed through this road many times,” he added.
The court ruling has thrown the ADC’s leadership structure and its preparations for the 2027 elections into uncertainty.
However, Melaye maintained that the party would not abandon its political plans despite the legal setback.
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