Supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have staged a protest at a court in Abuja following a judgment that reportedly removes the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections. The demonstrators expressed outrage over the decision, which they claim undermines the party’s ability to participate in the next electoral cycle.
The protesters converged on the court to submit a petition, alleging that they are being unfairly prevented from exercising their legal rights. A central grievance of the group is the alleged difficulty in obtaining the official court documents required to challenge the ruling in a higher court.
“We disagree with the judgement. We have a constitutional right to appeal it. But we cannot appeal what we do not have,” the protesters stated in their petition, as detailed in a report by Premium Times Nigeria.
Legal hurdles in the appeal process
The inability to access a certified true copy of a court judgment is a significant procedural bottleneck in Nigerian political litigation. Without this document, legal teams are unable to formally file an appeal or present the specific grounds for a challenge in a superior court of record. This delay effectively freezes the party’s ability to contest the ruling that affects its 2027 candidates.
The judgment in question specifically targets the recognition of the party’s candidates, a development that has caused significant tension within the ADC leadership and its various wings. If the ruling is not overturned, the party faces the prospect of being unable to field candidates in the upcoming 2027 elections, which could lead to a total loss of political relevance in several constituencies.
Political analysts note that such judicial interventions in party affairs often stem from internal leadership disputes, where different factions vie for control of the party’s structures. The court’s decision to sack the 2027 candidates suggests a significant ruling on the legitimacy of the current party hierarchy or the process used to select those candidates.
The protesters’ petition seeks immediate intervention to ensure the judgment is made available for legal scrutiny. As of now, the court has not issued a formal response to the protest or the petition submitted by the supporters. The ADC legal team is expected to follow up on the request for the certified copy of the judgment to determine the next steps in their litigation strategy.
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