Alex Enumah in Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appealed the judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked the National Executive Committee of the get together led by Senator David Mark.
Besides, the ADC has additionally apply for a keep of execution of the judgment of Justice Peter Lifu, which acknowledged an aggrieved chieftain of the get together, former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, because the genuine chief of the ADC.
Justice Lifu in a judgment delivered on Thursday, additionally nullified all actions taken up to now by the Mark-led govt, for being illegal, unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void.
He had predicated his choice on the grounds that the Mark-led govt emerged via an illegal course of and shouldn’t be acknowledged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Barely 24 hours after the trial court docket’s verdict, the ADC had approached the appellate court docket to problem the choice of the trial court docket and has additionally utilized for an order halting the judgment dis-recognizing the Mark-led management pending the listening to and dedication of the enchantment.
The discover of enchantment in addition to the movement for keep dated November 6, was filed on behalf of the ADC by their crew of legal professionals led by Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, SAN.
The report of the enchantment and keep of execution had been contained in a letter written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“We are counsel to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) the first Defendant within the above-mentioned go well with.
“Recall that the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, delivered its judgment within the aforementioned go well with in favour of the plaintiff thereof on November 5, 2026.
“The 1st Defendant being dissatisfied with the said judgment of the Federal High Court, has filed a Notice of Appeal against the judgment at the Court of Appeal. A copy of the Notice of Appeal dated November 6, 2026 is annexed for your confirmation and same is marked as Annexure “A”.
“The 1st Defendant has also filed Motion on Notice at the Federal High Court for the Stay of Execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on November 5, 2026 pending the hearing and determination of the appeal at the Court of Appeal. A copy of the Motion on Notice for Stay of Execution dated November 6, 2026 is annexed for your confirmation and same is marked as Annexure “B”.
“We due to this fact, write to deliver to your consideration that the plaintiff (Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe) is conscious of the enchantment filed by the first Defendant (African Democratic Congress (ADC) in addition to the Motion on Notice for Stay of Execution. The Motion on Notice for the Stay of Execution is but to be taken by the Honourable Court.
“In view of the foregoing, we enjoined the Commission to stay further action on the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the appeal now pending at the Court of Appeal”, the letter learn.
Justice Peter Lifu had in a judgment delivered on Thursday held that the emergence of Senator Mark as chairman of the ADC in addition to the opposite members of his govt violated the structure in addition to the rules of the ADC.
Recall that the previous National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, had approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, to problem the emergence of the Senator David Mark led govt of the ADC.
The plaintiff within the go well with marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, had claimed that following the resignation of the previous National Chairman of the ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he (Gombe) was certified to imagine the get together’s management.
He had particularly prayed the court docket to restrain them from parading themselves as leaders of the get together, on the grounds that the method that produced them violated constitutional provisions in addition to the ADC’s tips.
Those sued included the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the get together’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, as first to fifth defendants, respectively.
However, the defendants had requested the court docket to dismiss the go well with for being incompetent and missing in advantage, explaining that the go well with as constituted falls throughout the inner issues of a political get together, and due to this fact outdoors the jurisdiction of the court docket.
Delivering judgment within the matter on Thursday, Justice Lifu had disagreed with the defendants, holding that their emergence as executives of the ADC didn’t observe the due technique of the regulation.
The decide subsequently granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and declared as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void, all actions and selections taking by the Mark-led govt on behalf of the get together.
Recall that the congresses and conference that produced former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and different candidates vying for different elective workplaces each on the states and federal ranges had been carried out by the Senator David Mark led National Executive.
