A Federal High Court judge whose earlier ruling against the African Democratic Congress(ADC) was thrown out on appeal has struck at the party again, this time days after Atiku Abubakar’s campaign flag-off in Sokoto.
On Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu removed the David Mark-led leadership and voided its actions.
That covers the primary that produced Atiku as the 2027 presidential candidate.
The court declared illegal everything the Mark-led ADC has done since July 27, 2026.
It is the second time this year the judge has been at the centre of an ADC dispute.
In June, he directed INEC to deregister the ADC and four other parties. The Court of Appeal later ruled that judgment invalid because it was delivered despite an existing appellate order.
The appellate court also accused him of “judicial rascality” for proceeding anyway.
The ADC has said it will appeal, and its welfare secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, confirmed this.
The party’s earlier reaction to the judge suggests it will fight hard. It said the appeal court found he had “concocted evidence” in the deregistration case.
The timing is tight. The presidential election is set for January 16, 2027, and INEC has already published Atiku’s name with Rotimi Amaechi as running mate.