Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja of withholding the judgment that nullified the party’s leadership and the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Amaechi alleged that the judge had failed to release certified copies of the judgment despite applications by the party’s lawyers, a development he said was preventing the ADC from effectively pursuing its appeal.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, the former Minister of Transportation expressed frustration over the delay, insisting that the party needed the judgment to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
“We can’t even see the judgment. He needs to hand over the judgment to us so that we can head to the Court of Appeal. He disappeared with the judgment. He is yet to hand it over to us despite the fact that we have applied,” Amaechi said.
Justice Lifu, on November 5, nullified the David Mark-led ADC leadership and decisions arising from the disputed National Executive Committee meeting, including the process associated with Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.
Following the judgment, the ADC filed a notice of appeal and an application for a stay of execution.
However, the party’s Presidential Campaign Council complained on Monday that its legal team had yet to obtain certified copies of the judgment despite completing the necessary applications and paying the prescribed fees.
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The council said the delay was affecting its ability to scrutinise the court’s orders and adequately prepare its legal challenge.
Amaechi also questioned aspects of the proceedings, particularly the handling of the issue of jurisdiction, expressing surprise that the party’s lawyers had not challenged the judge’s approach more forcefully.
The ADC chieftain further drew parallels between the party’s current legal predicament and the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
He alleged that Nigeria’s opposition political movements had repeatedly encountered judicial obstacles whenever they appeared to be making significant political progress.
“Every time you have the opposition making any progress in Nigerian politics, there is always somebody in the judiciary that will do one thing or the other. It happened to Abiola,” he alleged.
Amaechi maintained that the judiciary should place national interest above political considerations, particularly in matters capable of determining the country’s democratic direction.
The ADC has rejected the November 5 ruling and expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal will overturn the decision.
The party has also appealed to its supporters to remain calm and sustain their political activities while the legal proceedings continue.
The controversy has heightened uncertainty surrounding the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, particularly its leadership structure and presidential ticket.