The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja on the deadline for party primaries and other provisions contained in the electoral guidelines, describing the ruling as a validation of the party’s long-standing objections.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the court’s decision affirmed concerns it had earlier raised over aspects of the electoral body’s regulations, particularly those relating to membership registration timelines and the conduct of party primaries.
According to the party, the judgment addressed provisions it believed were inconsistent with the Constitution and democratic principles.
“The decision of the court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the Constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” the statement read.
The opposition party further noted that the ruling had effectively removed restrictions that could have hindered politicians from seeking alternative political platforms ahead of elections.
ADC argued that the disputed guideline was initially introduced to discourage defections from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We believed at the time that that particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC. Now that the court has ruled against it, we are sure that, in the coming days, we will witness a mass exodus from the ruling party,” the statement added.
The party maintained that the judgment represents a significant step toward strengthening freedom of association and deepening democratic participation in the country.
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