Court Ruling: APC Tells ADC to Resolve Internal Leadership Crisis

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to resolve its internal leadership crisis, dismissing allegations that it influenced the High Court judgment that removed the Senator David Mark-led faction.

The APC said it had no involvement in the legal dispute, which resulted in the nullification of the Mark-led leadership and decisions taken under it, including the party’s primary election processes.

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, and posted on X by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the ruling party accused the ADC of selectively defending the judiciary, arguing that it praises court decisions when they favour its position but questions the courts when rulings go against it.

PRESS STATEMENT

APC TO ADC – GO SORT OUT YOUR INTERNAL MESS IN A PARTY SCUTTLED BY ITS PIRATE LEADERS

Every time a court decides against the Senator David Mark-led factional African Democratic Congress (ADC), they accuse the All Progressives Congress (APC) of collusion and deprecate the judiciary. Every time a court decides in their favour, they hail the rule of law and extol the judiciary. That is the habitual folly of a vessel of a party scuttled by its own pirate leaders.

The ADC touts its desire to win power and govern democratic Nigeria without any iota of regard for the authority and independence of the judiciary, an indispensable pillar of any democracy. In their warped reckoning, only courts and judges that side with them are worthy while those that rule differently are a menace to society. That is senselessness in the extreme.

The court judgment that has sent the ADC in a tailspin had to do with a notorious case initiated by leaders of ADC against pirate leaders of ADC. To be clear, APC is neither a party nor an interlocutor in the matter. Nothing about the case has anything to do with the APC. And the APC has absolutely no role in the party’s judicial quagmire.

The case resulted from a legal challenge brought by ADC national officers victimized by the bare-faced heist of the party’s leadership by David Mark and his co-pirates to satisfy Atiku Abubakar’s quixotic presidential ambition. It didn’t matter to them that their hostile takeover of that party was in flagrant violation of the rule of law and ADC’s internal democracy, as a court of competent jurisdiction has now declared.

Now they lash out in a fit of rage at the court and innocent spectators for the judicial outcome that was the inevitable consequence of their reckless political misadventure. They rave and rant senselessly, peddle conspiracy theories, but take no
responsibility or accountability for the self-inflicted injury that the court only judicially certified.

Yesterday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, sacking the David Mark-led leadership of ADC and consequentially nullifying all official acts of the illegitimate party leadership, including its primary election processes and outcomes was procured by their own lawlessness and demonstrates the vibrancy of the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in Nigeria.

If ADC is dissatisfied with that decision, it should exercise its constitutional right of appeal rather than engage in partisan mudslinging against our great Party and issuing threats to incite anarchy against the same Nigerians they claim they desire to govern.

The ADC is a decrepit party, and continues to prove itself as grossly unfit to be taken seriously by Nigerians, and Nigerians are unperturbed by their irresponsible and dangerous rhetoric. A party that cannot fix itself cannot possibly fix Africa’s most important country.

Our great Party and the President Tinubu administration remain committed to preserving Nigeria’s democracy, upholding the rule of law, and delivering good governance to all Nigerians, and unfazed by the wolf cries of a drowning opposition.

Signed:

Felix Morka, CON
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)

NOVEMBER 6, 2026

— Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON (@aonanuga1956) November 6, 2026

The APC maintained that the case was initiated by ADC national officers who challenged what it described as the takeover of the party’s leadership by Mark and his associates to advance former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition.

It argued that the court’s decision was the consequence of the ADC leadership’s alleged violation of the party’s constitution and internal democratic processes, rather than any interference by the ruling party.

“Every time a court decides against the Senator David Mark-led factional African Democratic Congress (ADC), they accuse the All Progressives Congress (APC) of collusion and deprecate the judiciary. Every time a court decides in their favour, they hail the rule of law and extol the judiciary. That is the habitual folly of a vessel of a party scuttled by its own pirate leaders.

“The ADC touts its desire to win power and govern democratic Nigeria without any iota of regard for the authority and independence of the judiciary, an indispensable pillar of any democracy. In their warped reckoning, only courts and judges that side with them are worthy while those that rule differently are a menace to society. That is senselessness in the extreme.

“The court judgment that has sent the ADC in a tailspin had to do with a notorious case initiated by leaders of ADC against pirate leaders of ADC. To be clear, APC is neither a party nor an interlocutor in the matter. Nothing about the case has anything to do with the APC. And the APC has absolutely no role in the party’s judicial quagmire,” the statement read. 

The APC also accused the ADC of blaming the judiciary and other parties instead of accepting responsibility for the leadership dispute. It described the opposition party’s allegations of a conspiracy as an attempt to shift attention from its internal problems.

“The case resulted from a legal challenge brought by ADC national officers victimized by the bare-faced heist of the party’s leadership by David Mark and his co-pirates to satisfy Atiku Abubakar’s quixotic presidential ambition. It didn’t matter to them that their hostile takeover of that party was in flagrant violation of the rule of law and ADC’s internal democracy, as a court of competent jurisdiction has now declared.

“Now they lash out in a fit of rage at the court and innocent spectators for the judicial outcome that was the inevitable consequence of their reckless political misadventure. They rave and rant senselessly, peddle conspiracy theories, but take no responsibility or accountability for the self-inflicted injury that the court only judicially certified,” it added. 

The statement referred to Thursday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the High Court in Abuja, which removed the Mark-led leadership and nullified official decisions taken under it, including the party’s primary election processes and outcomes.

The ruling party described the judgment as evidence of judicial independence and the rule of law, adding that the ADC should appeal if it disagreed with the decision rather than accuse the APC of political interference.

It also criticised the ADC’s response to the ruling, warning against statements it claimed could incite disorder.

“Yesterday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, sacking the David Mark-led leadership of ADC and consequentially nullifying all official acts of the illegitimate party leadership, including its primary election processes and outcomes was procured by their own lawlessness and demonstrates the vibrancy of the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in Nigeria.

“If ADC is dissatisfied with that decision, it should exercise its constitutional right of appeal rather than engage in partisan mudslinging against our great Party and issuing threats to incite anarchy against the same Nigerians they claim they desire to govern.”  

The APC further questioned the ADC’s ability to govern Nigeria, arguing that a party unable to resolve its internal disputes would struggle to address the country’s challenges.

It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s democracy, upholding the rule of law and delivering good governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“The ADC is a decrepit party, and continues to prove itself as grossly unfit to be taken seriously by Nigerians, and Nigerians are unperturbed by their irresponsible and dangerous rhetoric. A party that cannot fix itself cannot possibly fix Africa’s most important country.

“Our great Party and the President Tinubu administration remain committed to preserving Nigeria’s democracy, upholding the rule of law, and delivering good governance to all Nigerians, and unfazed by the wolf cries of a drowning opposition,” it added.