The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially clarified that its current national leadership remains unchanged following a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal. In a move to dispel growing rumours, the party urged its members and the general public to disregard “misleading interpretations” of the judicial decision.
In a press release issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party affirmed that the positions of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary are not affected by the ruling.
Procedural Victory, Not a Leadership Change
The ADC explained that the appellate court’s decision was based purely on procedural grounds. Crucially, the court did not determine the substantive dispute regarding the party’s leadership, which is still a pending matter.
“The case challenging the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary is still pending before the Federal High Court and has not yet been heard or decided on its merits,” the statement clarified.
The “Status Quo” Order
According to the party’s legal team, the Court of Appeal did not grant any reliefs to the plaintiffs. Instead, the court explicitly ordered all parties involved to maintain the status quo.
This legal directive means:
- The current state of affairs within the ADC must remain unchanged.
- The leadership structure led by Senator David Mark remains the legitimate authority of the party.
- No new orders were issued to alter the tenure or legitimacy of the current national leadership.
Resistance Against “Anti-Democratic Forces”
Addressing the rank and file of the party, Mallam Abdullahi advised members not to panic, characterizing the legal challenge as part of a larger struggle against those attempting to destabilize the opposition.
“The party remains united and focused despite the antics of anti-democratic forces bent on imposing a one-party rule on Nigeria,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC leadership reaffirmed its commitment to the party’s mission and assured supporters that they remain focused on the substantive suit still awaiting determination at the Federal High Court.
