ADC dares Tinubu to face Atiku at the ballot box on 16 January 2027
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Post
Nigerian opposition party the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is urging President Bola Tinubu to face its candidate Atiku Abubakar at the ballot box on 16 January 2027 rather than resort to judicial manoeuvres. It accuses Chief Judge John Tsoho of transferring the case from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Peter Lifu, whose judgment removed the party’s leadership, according to a statement published on Tuesday.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria’s main opposition party, dared President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday to face its candidate Atiku Abubakar at the ballot box on 16 January 2027, rather than resort to judicial manoeuvres, according to a party statement reported by Daily Post.
The Federal High Court removed the ADC leadership, led by former Senate President David Mark. The party has appealed and the case is pending before the Court of Appeal, while the electoral commission (INEC) awaits the outcome of the proceedings.
The ADC says it wants to expose the manoeuvres behind the transfer of a case that Justice Emeka Nwite had already begun hearing to Justice Peter Lifu. Despite its formal protest, Chief Judge John Tsoho allegedly assigned the case to Justice Lifu the very next day. The party sees this as evidence of bias and describes the judgment as "brazenly rascally".
"Our lawyers have taken the matter to the Court of Appeal, we respect its authority," the ADC writes, calling on the ruling party, the APC, to face Atiku Abubakar on the political field.
The judgment was delivered on 5 November, when a Nigerian court invalidated Atiku’s candidacy for 2027. Atiku had then accused the judgment of targeting his candidacy.
