Why Lifu’s judgment harmful assault on multi-party democracy – ADC candidates

…Calls for vigilance, President Tinubu’s dedication to multiparty democracy

Forum of African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidates in Nigeria Thursday got here down closely on the judiciary condemning a latest judgment delivered by Justice Peter lifu.

The occasion has due to this fact declared that the Nigerian individuals, and never any president, political occasion or judicial controversy, should decide who governs them.

The occasion has additional referred to as on the worldwide neighborhood to stay vigilant, have interaction the Nigerian authorities and defend the democratic ideas to which Nigeria has subscribed.

The Forum spokesperson, Hon Zakari mohammed whereas addressing journalists on the occasion’s headquarters in Abuja described the judgment as a harmful assault on multi-party democracy and a risk to Nigeria’s 2027 electoral course of.

The judgment delivered by Justice Lifu in response to the discussion board has created severe apprehension amongst ADC gubernatorial candidates, National Assembly candidates occasion members and tens of millions of Nigerians who imagine in aggressive democracy, noting that the results are huge.

Across the federation, the Forum mentioned that hundreds of people have invested their sources, time and political dedication in making ready to contest elections below the ADC platform, including: “These are Nigerians who’ve exercised their constitutional rights to affiliate, organise and search elective workplaces and their aspirations can’t be casually thrown into uncertainty with out elevating severe questions in regards to the penalties for democratic participation.

The occasion mentioned it was significantly involved in regards to the implications of the judgment for the political way forward for the ADC and the constitutional rights of its members and supporters.

“We are not asking for immunity from the law. No political party should be above the law.However, the law must be applied consistently, impartially and without discrimination.” He was occasion quoted as saying.

Mohammed, nevertheless, made it clear in his presentation that the discussion board condemnation of the judgment doesn’t represent a rejection of the judiciary or the rule of legislation.

The occasion’s candidate place in response to him was knowledgeable by the necessity to protect public confidence within the judiciary and shield the constitutional rights of Nigerians.

While encouraging ADC members, candidates, and supporters nationwide to stay calm, peaceable, and law-abiding, the occasion he famous was able to pursues out there authorized treatments.

The occasion expressed issues in regards to the relationship between this newest determination and the sooner judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman on July 2, 2026, which recognises the legitimacy of the David Mark-led management.

The occasion additionally questioned how a court docket of coordinate jurisdiction might arrive at a call with such far-reaching penalties within the face of an earlier judgment on the identical management dispute, saying it has raised severe authorized questions that deserve examination by the appellate courts.

Mohammed mentioned: “We tackle you right this moment on behalf of the Forum of African Democratic Congress (ADC) Gubernatorial Candidates throughout Nigeria, at a defining second within the historical past of our democracy.
We are compelled to talk out towards the November 5, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified the management of the ADC below Senator David Mark and invalidated selections taken below that management.

“This judgment has profound implications past the inner affairs of the ADC. It raises elementary questions on judicial consistency, political participation, the independence of democratic establishments and the way forward for multiparty democracy in Nigeria.

“We contemplate the choice a grave assault on democratic freedoms and a growth able to destabilising the 2027 electoral course of if its implications will not be urgently addressed by means of lawful constitutional treatments.

“We shall not give up our democratic rights, however neither we could abandon the constitutional path.
Our dedication to democracy just isn’t negotiable.

“Distinguished Nigerians, the wrestle earlier than us is greater than the political way forward for any particular person, political occasion, or presidential candidate,
It is about whether or not Nigeria will stay a real multiparty democracy the place residents have the liberty to decide on their leaders or progressively drift in the direction of a political association by which electoral competitors turns into more and more restricted.

“We refuse to simply accept a Nigeria the place opposition events are handled as undesirable intruders in their very own nation.
We refuse to simply accept a political setting the place the ambition of retaining energy takes priority over the constitutional rights of residents.

“We refuse to simply accept the normalisation of institutional actions that would undermine the credibility of the 2027 electoral course of.

“Democracy just isn’t a coronation. Elections will not be an appointment. Political energy just isn’t an inheritance.The Nigerian individuals, and never any president, political occasion or judicial controversy, should decide who governs them.

“We due to this fact name on the worldwide neighborhood to stay vigilant, have interaction the Nigerian authorities and defend the democratic ideas to which Nigeria has subscribed.

“The world should stand for democratic pluralism.
And the world should not enable the democratic aspirations of tens of millions of Nigerians to be undermined

“We Call on the International Community, African Union, ECOWAS, United Nations, Commonwealth and Democratic Institutions Worldwide to Intervene Against the Growing Threat to Opposition Politics in Nigeria.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC management should publicly reaffirm their dedication to multiparty democracy and desist from any conduct able to undermining opposition events.

“We name for the safety of the political and constitutional rights of ADC members, candidates and supporters throughout the federation.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission should stay neutral, unbiased, and guided strictly by the Constitution and relevant electoral legal guidelines.