APC Fires Back At ADC, Says Party Must Fix Internal Crisis, Stop Blaming Tinubu

APC Fires Back At ADC, Says Party Must Fix Internal Crisis, Stop Blaming Tinubu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to resolve its internal leadership crisis rather than blame President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling party following a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the leadership of Senator David Mark and affected the party's electoral nominations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ruling party described the ADC's predicament as a self-inflicted political and legal crisis, insisting that neither the APC nor President Tinubu was responsible for the opposition party's current difficulties.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, November 6, 2026, in reaction to the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Morka argued that the leadership dispute originated from disagreements among ADC stakeholders and should not be turned into an allegation of political interference by the ruling party.

He maintained that the APC was neither a party to the legal proceedings nor involved in the dispute that culminated in the court's decision.

According to him, the ADC should accept responsibility for its internal disagreements and pursue the appropriate judicial remedies if it disagrees with the judgment.

Morka also accused the opposition party of double standards, alleging that it celebrates judicial decisions when they favour its interests but attacks the judiciary and accuses the APC of interference when rulings go against it.

He further argued that a political party struggling to resolve its own leadership disagreements would find it difficult to convince Nigerians that it could effectively manage the country's affairs.

The APC spokesman urged the ADC to exercise its constitutional right of appeal rather than engage in what he described as partisan attacks and allegations capable of heightening political tension.

The controversy followed Thursday's judgment by Justice Lifu, which invalidated the leadership structure headed by former Senate President David Mark and nullified decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the party's presidential primary and other nomination processes.

The ruling also affected the presidential ticket of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the ADC candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

However, the ADC has strongly rejected the judgment, describing it as legally indefensible and alleging that the ruling party was attempting to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party questioned the timing of the judgment, particularly its delivery barely a day after Atiku's campaign rally in Sokoto State.

The ADC also cited an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, which it said affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.

The party argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction could not overturn or invalidate an existing judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction.

It announced its intention to challenge the latest decision through available judicial channels, while stating that it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to establish its precise scope and consequential orders.

The development has intensified political uncertainty within the opposition coalition and raised fresh questions about the ADC's ability to resolve its leadership dispute and maintain its preparations for the 2027 elections.

With the legal battle expected to continue, the outcome of the anticipated appeal could have significant implications for the party's leadership, electoral nominations and the broader opposition landscape.

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