The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately frustrating its political activities following the sealing of Arewa House in Kaduna, a venue proposed for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to meet with Northern stakeholders.
The party blamed the APC-led Kaduna State Government for the closure, describing the development as an attempt to obstruct opposition activities and undermine democratic competition.
Atiku, in a statement quoted by his campaign council, said his team had proposed Arewa House for a stakeholders’ consultation scheduled for Thursday but discovered that the facility had been sealed by the government.
The Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, condemned the development, describing Arewa House as part of the shared heritage of the diverse peoples of Northern Nigeria.
He argued that shutting the facility amounted to an infringement on the right of political parties to organise consultations and engage with citizens.
Shaibu also linked the incident to the party’s campaign flag-off in Sokoto, which he alleged the APC-led government had previously attempted to frustrate.
He accused Tinubu and the APC of engaging in a pattern of actions aimed at restricting opposition activities, insisting that the ADC would not be intimidated.
The party, he said, would continue its consultations, pursue its legal rights and take its political message to Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the ADC has expressed concern over the release of the certified true copy (CTC) of the November 5 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The judgment reportedly nullified the emergence of Senator David Mark as the party’s National Chairman and all actions taken under his leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Shaibu said the certified copy of the judgment was released on the seventh day, the final day permitted under Section 294(1) of the 1999 Constitution, leaving the party with limited time to study the decision and prepare its legal response.
He maintained that the party would examine the judgment and pursue all available legal remedies.
In a related development, members of the Forum of ADC Candidates in Nigeria, led by Audu Aliyu, staged a protest at the office of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and the United Nations building in Abuja over the delay in releasing the judgment.
In a petition dated November 10 and addressed to Justice Tsoho, the candidates said their lawyers applied for the certified true copy immediately after judgment was delivered in the suit instituted by Nafi’u Bala Gombe against the ADC and others.
They claimed that although the required fees had been paid, the document remained unavailable despite repeated visits to the court registry.
Citing Sections 294(1), 241 and 242 of the Constitution, the candidates argued that the delay was undermining their constitutional right to appeal.
They urged the Chief Judge to direct the court registrar to release the document to their lawyers within 24 hours, warning that further delays could affect their ability to file a competent appeal within the electoral timetable.
The candidates said they disagreed with the judgment but remained committed to challenging it through the appropriate legal channels.
They also alleged that the APC was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the judgment immediately, an allegation that was not independently established in the statement.
Speaking during the visit to the UN office, Aliyu said the delegation wanted the international organisation to encourage respect for the rule of law and democratic principles in Nigeria.
He argued that democracy could not thrive without political competition and called on the international community to monitor developments surrounding the ADC leadership dispute.
The petition was received by the Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Suzanne Su, alongside the Head of the UN Information Centre, Ronald Kayanja, and Deputy Head of Security, Mahmoud Sinasi.
The officials acknowledged receipt of the petition but made no comments on the issues raised.
The candidates also copied their petitions to the European Union Delegation, British High Commission, United States Embassy, Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, ECOWAS Commission, INEC Chairman and the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch, among other institutions.
They stressed that they were not asking foreign governments or international organisations to interfere in Nigeria’s domestic affairs but to support due process, the right to appeal and credible elections.
The forum warned that implementing the judgment before the conclusion of pending legal proceedings could potentially prevent ADC candidates, including its presidential candidate, from participating in the 2027 general elections.
It urged diplomatic missions to encourage the relevant authorities to release the judgment and called on INEC to maintain neutrality while appeals and applications for a stay of execution remained pending.
However, the APC has dismissed the ADC’s allegations of political interference, insisting that Atiku Abubakar should take responsibility for the leadership crisis threatening his presidential ambition.
A member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, argued that the dispute surrounding Senator David Mark’s emergence as ADC National Chairman was neither unexpected nor concealed.
According to him, Atiku and other influential party stakeholders had sufficient opportunity to resolve the leadership crisis before the presidential primary that produced the former vice president as the party’s candidate.
Alawuje maintained that the APC could not be blamed for every internal disagreement within the opposition party.
He challenged Atiku to explain the safeguards put in place to protect his nomination and identify those who advised him to proceed with his presidential ambition amid the unresolved leadership dispute.
He further argued that allegations of political interference, intimidation and abuse of state institutions should be supported by evidence and investigated where necessary.
Alawuje said if Atiku’s name eventually failed to appear on INEC’s final presidential ballot, subject to any appellate orders, the former vice president should first examine the political decisions that led to the situation.
He, however, clarified that his position was not intended to celebrate Atiku’s predicament or defend the APC against any proven wrongdoing.
He stressed that Nigeria needed a strong and responsible opposition capable of strengthening democratic accountability.
The unfolding developments have heightened political tensions within the ADC as the party faces simultaneous challenges involving its leadership structure, candidate nominations and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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