The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the judgment the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja which affirmed the nullification of the party’s state congresses conducted by David Mark-led leadership.

This was just as the party disclosed that it had begun the process of challenging the judgment, it described as legally unsustainable, at the Supreme Court.

It further said the Monday’s ruling will not affect its direct primaries or the emergence of its candidates for the 2027 general elections.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the national publicity secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi.

Addressing concerns over the judgment, the party said, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) notes the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday in a matter relating to party congresses for the election of ward, local government and state executive committees of the Party.

“We wish to assure members of the Party and the general public that this judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the Party’s candidates have emerged at all levels.”

The party further disclosed that it had already initiated legal steps to challenge the judgment, while expressing confidence in the dissenting opinion delivered by one of the appellate justices.

The statement added, “The Party has already commenced the process of appealing the judgment, which we respectfully disagree with and consider to be legally unsustainable.

“We also note the dissenting judgment of the presiding Justice, which, in our view, more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the Party’s position.”

The ADC urged its members and supporters to remain calm and focused despite the legal challenge, insisting that the party remained committed to its political objectives.

It stated, “We urge all Party members and the millions of our supporters to remain calm, confident and focused.

“The African Democratic Congress remains committed to the task of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative and will continue to pursue that mission in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.”

Earlier, the appeal court upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses conducted by committees constituted by the Mark-led caretaker leadership.

In a split decision, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Okon Abang, affirmed the lower court’s order, ruling that there was no basis to overturn the judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on April 29.

The appellate court also sustained the order preventing the Mark-led caretaker executives from interfering with the tenure and functions of the party’s duly elected state executive committees.

Appeal Court judgment is the latest development in a series of legal disputes surrounding the ADC’s internal leadership and congresses ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.