A civil society organisation, the Alliance for Democratic Rights, ADR, says “all eyes are on Supreme Court justices” as they prepare to rule on the African Democratic Congress, ADC, leadership case.
The group’s leader, Chief Olayinka Yusuf, stated this in Abuja on Monday.
According to Chief Yusuf, the justices now face a defining choice: “either they reverse themselves by supporting anti democratic elements, or they toe the line of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, which is clear on the case of jurisdiction that is before them.”
He cited; Section 83 of the Electoral Act, which exempts judicial interference in party affairs, stressing that the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that internal leadership disputes are non justiciable and fall within the exclusive domain of political parties.
There are insinuations in political circles that the Presidency is behind the ADC crisis. Chief Yusuf referenced reports that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, publicly directed Hon. Leke Abejide to “scatter” the ADC and promised to support Nafiu Bala Gombe, a claimant in the leadership dispute.
“It will be a mockery of our judiciary if the Justices of the Supreme Court reversed themselves and make Nigeria a laughing stock,” Chief Yusuf said.
“The international community has so much interest in this particular case because of the pressure on the judiciary,” he added.
He alleged that it is “no longer a hidden issue” that Supreme Court justices are under “undue pressure to turn the law upside down” and remit the case to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing a move he said would contradict both Section 83 and the court’s own precedents.
“The law is settled. Internal crisis of any political party is an internal affair,” Chief Yusuf added.
He warned that any deviation from established precedents would undermine public confidence in the judiciary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Supreme Court had earlier reserved judgment in the ADC leadership dispute between Sen. David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola leadership and Nafiu Bala, a claimant to the ADC chairmanship.
A date for the decision has not been announced.
