By Lanre Oloyede
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to focus on resolving its internal leadership dispute rather than blaming the ruling party for its recent legal setback.
In a statement issued in Abuja, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, rejected allegations that the APC was involved in the legal challenge that resulted in a Federal High Court judgment against the Senator David Mark-led leadership faction of the ADC.
According to Morka, the dispute originated from disagreements within the ADC itself and was brought before the court by aggrieved members of the party.
He accused the opposition party of displaying double standards toward the judiciary by celebrating court rulings when they are favorable and attacking judges whenever decisions go against its interests.
Morka maintained that the APC had no connection with the litigation and should not be blamed for the outcome of a case in which it was neither a party nor an interested stakeholder.
He further alleged that the crisis followed what he described as a takeover of the ADC leadership by allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in pursuit of political objectives ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC spokesman said the court’s decision demonstrated the independence of the judiciary and the operation of the rule of law.
According to him, the judgment invalidated the David Mark-led leadership structure and consequential actions taken by that faction, including its primary election processes and outcomes.
Morka advised the ADC to pursue its constitutional right of appeal if dissatisfied with the ruling rather than resorting to accusations against the judiciary or the ruling party.
He also warned against inflammatory political rhetoric, arguing that a party unable to manage its own internal affairs would face challenges convincing Nigerians that it is capable of governing the country.
“A party that cannot fix itself cannot possibly fix Africa’s most important country,” he said.
The APC, however, reaffirmed its commitment to democracy, the rule of law and good governance, insisting that it remains focused on supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rather than engaging in disputes arising from opposition party affairs.
