David Mark Blasts Court-Ordered ADC Deregistration, Says Judiciary Faces Credibility Test

National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has declared that the Nigerian judiciary is facing a major credibility test following the controversial court-ordered deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties.

Speaking on Tuesday at the ADC Strategic Communications Retreat in Abuja, the former Senate President said the focus should not be on the ADC but on how the judiciary handles the circumstances surrounding the judgment and related proceedings.

“The ADC is not on trial. Rather, it is the judiciary that is on trial and the nation is waiting to see how the National Judicial Council (NJC) is going to handle this precarious situation,” Mark said.

He expressed concern over the role played by Justice Peter Lifu in the matter, describing recent judicial actions involving the party as unprecedented and troubling.

Mark questioned what he described as conflicting decisions, alleging that the judge had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to treat the ADC as deregistered and then, within 24 hours, proceeded to entertain another matter involving the same party.

“It is strange that a judge can order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pronounce a party dead and in less than 24 hours put the same party on trial,” he said.

The ADC chairman further alleged that the court proceedings ignored an order of the Court of Appeal directing a stay of proceedings, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in the judicial system.

Despite the development, Mark urged party members to remain calm and focused, assuring them that the opposition party would weather the legal and political storm.

“Like I have said previously, our members should not worry about the shenanigans of the ruling party. We will go through all these turbulence because we are up to the task. By the time we are through all these, ADC will come out stronger,” he stated.

The former Senate President also accused the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to distract opposition parties, claiming that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the growing strength of alternative political platforms.

Addressing party communication strategists at the retreat, Mark challenged them to craft messages capable of attracting more Nigerians, including members of the APC, to the ADC.

The controversy follows a recent judgment of the Federal High Court ordering the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties, a decision that has generated widespread debate over party regulation, judicial independence and the future of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

The development has also sparked fresh calls for clarification from the judiciary and electoral authorities as political stakeholders continue to assess the implications of the ruling on the country’s democratic landscape.