The Director of Media and Publicity of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, has faulted the ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu which sacked the David Mark-led ADC, and cancelled the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
Ologbondiyan, who spoke on Arise TV on Friday, described the judgment as useless and an academic exercise overtaken by events.
“Lifu judgment is useless, an academic exercise and has been overtaken by events. It cannot stop Atiku,” he said.
He argued that the ruling cannot stand because another court of the same level had already decided the same matter.
According to him, the judgment has no practical effect and cannot wipe out the earlier decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
Ologbondiyan recalled that Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had looked into how Mark and Rauf Aregbesola emerged and confirmed the leadership change.
He said Liman held that the handover of leadership from Chief Ralph Nwosu to Mark did not breach the party’s constitution.
He explained that the July 2, 2025 meeting that is in dispute was a stakeholders’ meeting.
He added that it came before the July 29, 2025 National Executive Council meeting where Mark and Aregbesola were picked as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, adding that the INEC monitored the NEC meeting.
Ologbondiyan said it was sad that Justice Lifu is again linked to another controversial ruling against the ADC.
He recalled that Lifu had earlier given a judgment that deregistered the ADC, a judgment which the Court of Appeal later set aside.
He also raised questions over the timing of the ruling, which came after the ADC held a successful presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto, noting that it raised fears of pressure and political interference.
He said the legal team of the party had started moves to challenge the judgment in the right courts, including asking for interim relief and a stay of execution where needed, before going on appeal.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Sen. David Mark remains the National Chairman recognised by the party, while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola remains its National Secretary,” he declared.
He called on ADC candidates, members and supporters to stay calm, stay alert and remain focused on their campaigns.