A political earthquake hit Nigeria’s opposition landscape on Tuesday as a Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, nullified all congresses and the national convention of the African Democratic Congress, declaring the entire process illegal and procedurally flawed.
In a sweeping judgment, the court ruled that the exercises—conducted across multiple states and culminating in the emergence of party executives—violated both the party’s constitution and established legal standards governing internal party democracy.
The verdict effectively wipes out the current leadership structure of the ADC, forcing the party back to square one.
The court did not mince words. It directed party leaders and stakeholders to immediately conduct fresh congresses and a new national convention in strict compliance with democratic procedures.
By invalidating the entire process, the ruling has dismantled months of political maneuvering and power consolidation within the party.
The decision is a major blow to dominant factions that had relied on the disputed convention to cement control over the party structure. At the same time, it hands a significant victory to aggrieved members who had long alleged imposition, exclusion, and manipulation of internal processes.
The crisis has been closely tied to high-profile political actors, including David Mark, whose involvement in broader coalition efforts had intensified tensions within the party.
Beyond internal party politics, the ruling sends ripples across Nigeria’s opposition landscape.
The ADC has been widely viewed as a potential vehicle for a grand opposition alliance ahead of 2027—bringing together heavyweights such as Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Atiku Abubakar.
With the party now thrown into uncertainty, those coalition plans face fresh complications, as legal clarity becomes a prerequisite for political alignment.
For many within the party, the judgment is being celebrated as a triumph of internal democracy and the rule of law. But for others, it signals the beginning of a deeper struggle for control that could further fracture the party.
As the ADC prepares for a fresh round of congresses, the stakes could not be higher: rebuild credibility and unity—or risk slipping into prolonged instability at a critical political moment.
One thing is clear—the court has reset the game, and the battle for the soul of the ADC is far from over.
Court Bombshell Shakes African Democratic Congress, Voids Congresses, Convention Nationwide
