Atiku Abubakar and his allies acquired a fake African Democratic Congress party through a defective leadership transition, according to a political aide.
The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress took a fresh turn in Abuja when political aide Lere Olayinka accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of taking over the opposition platform through a defective transition process.
The controversy follows a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja, which nullified the David Mark-led leadership and invalidated Atiku's 2027 presidential ticket under the opposition party, according to information published by The Sun Nigeria.
Olayinka alleged that Atiku and his political associates bypassed the party constitution by relying solely on the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu to install a caretaker committee rather than securing the approval of the entire National Working Committee.
Legal Flaws in the ADC Leadership Transition
Challenging the legality of the process in Abuja, Olayinka questioned how a resigned national chairman could retain the authority to constitute a caretaker committee led by David Mark, a former Senate President.
He argued that the party constitution should have dictated the succession, specifically whether the Deputy National Chairman ought to assume control pending the emergence of a substantive chairman for the 2027 general election.
Describing the takeover of the African Democratic Congress as a flawed maneuver, Olayinka stated that the political group failed to secure the necessary backing from the broader party structure during the transition.
Atiku Abubakar Accused of Buying Party Through Back Door
In his scathing public statement, Olayinka did not mince words regarding the manner in which the political faction assumed control of the opposition platform ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle in Nigeria.
"In their desperation and political foolishness, they bought a party through the Back Door," he alleged, emphasizing that warnings regarding the legality of the takeover were dismissed by the individuals involved.
He further claimed that former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu misled the incoming group into believing they had secured a legitimate and unchallengeable leadership takeover of the organization.
Ralph Nwosu Handed Over a Fake Party Structure
Continuing his critique, Olayinka used local terminology to describe the transaction between the former chairman and the political camp associated with the former Vice-President in the capital city.
"The National Chairman did them GBAJUE, handed over a FAKE PARTY to them, and moved," he remarked, suggesting the faction fell victim to a deceptive administrative maneuver.
The statements follow the pivotal ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which upheld a suit instituted by former Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Court Judgment Nullifies 2027 Presidential Ticket
The court ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu declared the caretaker committee led by David Mark completely illegal and nullified all actions taken by that faction, including the emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate.
Dismissing claims that the judiciary was responsible for the crisis, Olayinka insisted that the legal challenge was a direct consequence of the flawed manner in which the leadership transition was initially executed.
Despite the major setback to the presidential ambition, the African Democratic Congress has officially indicated its firm intention to challenge the Federal High Court judgment at the appellate court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the ADC leadership sacked by the court?
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked the David Mark-led leadership because the transition process violated the party constitution following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
What did Lere Olayinka say about Atiku Abubakar and the ADC?
Lere Olayinka accused Atiku Abubakar and his associates of buying the African Democratic Congress through the back door and accepting a fake party structure handed over by Ralph Nwosu.
How does the court judgment affect Atiku's 2027 presidential bid?
The Federal High Court judgment nullified the process that produced Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general election, though the party plans to appeal.
Who instituted the legal action against the ADC leadership?
The legal action was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, who argued he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership.
