The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says 97 top brass lawyers have been assembled to defend the party and its interim leadership in court.
In a statement issued by its media office on Tuesday, the ADC berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for backing a lawsuit intended to oust the ADC’s interim leadership.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says 97 top brass lawyers have been assembled to defend the party and its interim leadership in court.
In a statement issued by its media office on Tuesday, the ADC berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for backing a lawsuit intended to oust the ADC’s interim leadership. The ADC claimed that the suit, filed on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja by three individuals — Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila — seeks to discredit the leadership of Senator David Mark.
ADC hinted that the plaintiffs also questioned the legitimacy of the party’s interim leadership structure, arguing that the three men were not members of the party and were acting under false pretences.
The coalition claimed that the plaintiffs are not listed in its membership database in either Kogi or Nasarawa states, where they claimed affiliation.
“The ADC accused the APC of deceiving Nigerians by using the names of non-ADC members to file a suit against the party and its interim leadership,” the statement said. “It smacks of desperation that a party elected in charge of the lives of no fewer than 200 million people can engage in shopping for the names of its citizens in pursuit of Machiavellian politics.”
The party’s National Legal Support Group also confirmed that legal preparations are underway. According to Barrister Mohammed Sheriff, head of the group, 97 lawyers have expressed willingness to represent the party in court.
In case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1328, the ADC is the first defendant, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the party’s former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, are named as second and third defendants. Senator David Mark, former interior minister Rauf Aregbesola, and ex-minister of sports Bolaji Abdullahi are the fourth, fifth, and sixth defendants, respectively.
