Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has defended the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the party’s nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election.
Keyamo, in a post on X on Thursday, described the judgment as an affirmation that legal decisions must be determined by evidence rather than public sentiments and political reactions.
“Justice may be slow, but it is always SURE!” he wrote.
The minister argued that the Mark-led leadership could not assume control of a political party without following the required internal procedures, including obtaining approval from the party’s National Executive Committee or a mini National Convention.
He accused the faction of attempting to take over a party established by Nigerians without securing the necessary approvals.
“You cannot invade a political Party owned and built by Nigerians, hijack it with the connivance of a so-called National Chairman without a PRIOR meeting and approval of a mini National Convention or the National Executive Committee and hope to bluff your way out of such a brazen act by blaming and blackmailing the ruling Party for a misfortune deliberately stocked by you,” Keyamo said.
He further maintained that the legal dispute should be determined by the available evidence rather than political sentiments or reactions from the party’s supporters.
“Sorry, but the law is decided on facts and evidence, rather than sentiments and outrage by a group of people,” he stated.
Keyamo also rejected suggestions that the court’s decision amounted to a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that the ADC remained a political party with other members and leaders.
“It is not only when a certain ATIKU ABUBAKAR contest the Presidency that democracy is not in danger,” he said.
“The ADC as a Party is well and alive and populated by people and original leaders who are NO LESS Nigerians than a David Mark and his illegal band of marauders.”
His comments followed a judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared the David Mark-led caretaker committee of the ADC illegal and invalidated decisions taken under its leadership, including Atiku’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate.
The judgment followed a suit filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
The ADC has indicated that it will challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
