Firdaus Obiremi
The African Democratic Congress has petitioned the National Judicial Council, asking it to investigate two Federal High Court judges over the handling and transfer of a suit arising from the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
The party’s Presidential Campaign Council accused the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu of actions it claimed raised questions about judicial impartiality in the leadership dispute.
The ADC, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, alleged that Tsoho reassigned the case from Justice Emeka Nwite to Lifu barely 24 hours after receiving a formal protest from the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
Shaibu said the reassignment was troubling because Nwite had already commenced hearing the matter and had not withdrawn from the case.
He argued that the decision to transfer the suit to Lifu, who had earlier delivered a judgment against the David Mark-led leadership, created an appearance of bias and raised concerns about the fairness of the judicial process.
The ADC spokesperson called on the NJC to examine the circumstances surrounding the reassignment, the protest submitted by Aregbesola and the conduct of the proceedings before Lifu.
According to him, the plaintiff had initially sought the transfer of the case from Nwite, citing delays and a lack of confidence in obtaining an expeditious hearing.
However, he said the ADC’s legal team challenged the application on May 11, 2026, pointing to previous adjournments and disputing claims about the party’s responsibility for the delays.
Shaibu said the party’s lawyers described the application as an attempt at forum shopping.
He added that Aregbesola subsequently wrote to Tsoho on June 2, formally protesting the reassignment and requesting that it be reversed because the party lacked confidence in Lifu’s impartiality.
Despite the protest, the case was assigned to Lifu the following day.
“The sequence and timing of this transfer raise grave concerns about bias and create an appearance that the process was not handled with the impartiality this matter demanded,” Shaibu said.
He challenged the Federal High Court Chief Judge to explain why the party’s protest was not considered before the reassignment.
The ADC also questioned Lifu’s handling of another suit in which he reportedly ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the party alongside four others.
Shaibu alleged that the judge proceeded to deliver judgment despite an order by the Court of Appeal staying proceedings in the matter.
He said the appellate court subsequently nullified the judgment.
The party further relied on an earlier judgment by another Federal High Court judge, Justice Musa Liman, who reportedly dismissed a challenge to its leadership for lack of merit and locus standi.
According to Shaibu, Liman had held that the internal leadership dispute was non-justiciable, upheld the legality of the leadership handover and affirmed INEC’s entitlement to recognise the national chairman and national secretary.
He argued that Lifu, sitting at the same Federal High Court, could not disregard the earlier decision, adding that the conflicting legal positions were among the issues now before the Court of Appeal.
Beyond demanding an investigation into the judges, the ADC also called for the immediate release of the full judgment that reportedly invalidated the Mark-led leadership.
Shaibu said the party needed the certified judgment and the reasons behind the decision to pursue further legal remedies.
He warned that withholding the judgment could undermine the party’s constitutional right to challenge the ruling and make it difficult for the appellate court to properly examine the dispute.
“The ADC must be given the official copy and the reasons for the decision so that we can proceed with the appropriate legal action. Withholding the judgment obstructs our right to challenge it and denies the appellate court the benefit of a complete record,” he said.
The party, however, maintained that it would abide by the decision of the Court of Appeal on the legal questions surrounding its leadership crisis.
Shaibu also insisted that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar remained the party’s presidential candidate, declaring that the ADC would defend its position through the judicial process.
“The law is on his side, not sentiment. We will defend that position before the Court of Appeal and keep the record before Nigerians,” he added.
The latest development represents another escalation in the ADC’s internal leadership crisis, with the party seeking judicial intervention over decisions it believes could affect its leadership structure and political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the allegations against the judges remain the ADC’s position, while the NJC’s response to the request for an investigation was not contained in the statement.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
'