TCM RAISES ALARM OVER ADC JUDGMENT, DEMANDS JUDICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND PROTECTION OF NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY
Abuja, Nigeria | November 9, 2026
The Collective Movement (TCM) expresses deep concern over the November 5, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, which nullified the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), voided the presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and invalidated the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The judgment has far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democratic space, political participation and the constitutional rights of citizens to organize, associate and participate in the electoral process.
The decision affects not merely the internal leadership arrangements of a political party but also the political aspirations of thousands of Nigerians who have aligned themselves with the ADC as a platform for democratic participation and political representation.
TCM recognizes that the judiciary is an independent arm of government and that every court has a constitutional responsibility to adjudicate disputes brought before it. However, judicial independence must never be interpreted as immunity from scrutiny, accountability or legitimate public questioning.
The judiciary must remain independent, but every exercise of judicial authority must also inspire public confidence, demonstrate fidelity to due process and withstand scrutiny under the Constitution.
SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS MUST NOT BE IGNORED
TCM is particularly concerned by the broader judicial history surrounding the ADC leadership dispute.
The proceedings have involved several judicial interventions, including decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, in April 2026, directed the Federal High Court to conclude the substantive proceedings, while the latest judgment has now triggered another anticipated round of appeals.
These developments raise important questions about judicial consistency, the interpretation of court orders, the proper application of judicial hierarchy and the protection of political institutions from prolonged legal uncertainty.
We believe that these questions deserve careful examination by independent constitutional experts, legal practitioners and the appropriate judicial oversight institutions.
While the right of parties to seek judicial remedies must be respected, the consequences of judicial decisions capable of affecting an entire political party’s participation in a general election demand the highest standards of procedural fairness, constitutional interpretation and judicial responsibility.
Nigeria cannot afford a situation in which unresolved institutional disputes and prolonged legal uncertainty undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
THE RIGHT TO POLITICAL PARTICIPATION MUST BE PROTECTED
Democracy is not the exclusive property of political officeholders, political parties or institutions of government. It belongs to the Nigerian people.
The right of citizens to associate politically, support candidates, contest elections and participate in democratic processes must be protected within the framework of the Constitution and applicable electoral laws.
A political party’s internal disagreements should be resolved through lawful procedures that respect the rights of all parties involved. Equally, judicial intervention must be exercised with due regard for the wider constitutional implications of the decisions delivered.
TCM is concerned that the consequences of the latest judgment, if upheld by the appellate courts, could significantly restrict the electoral choices available to millions of Nigerians who identify with the ADC platform.
This is why the matter deserves attention beyond partisan interests.
TCM DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY AND JUDICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
In view of these developments, The Collective Movement makes the following demands:
1. Transparent Judicial Accountability: We call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to ensure that any credible allegations concerning judicial conduct arising from the handling of this matter receive appropriate, independent and impartial consideration, in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
2. Respect for Judicial Hierarchy: We urge strict adherence to the Constitution, binding judicial decisions and established principles governing the hierarchy of courts in Nigeria.
3. Protection of Democratic Participation: We call on all relevant institutions, including INEC, to act strictly within the law and ensure that the rights of political parties and eligible citizens are not undermined by arbitrary or unlawful administrative actions.
4. Expeditious Judicial Resolution: We encourage the parties involved to pursue the available appellate remedies without unnecessary delay, so that the dispute can receive a final and authoritative determination well ahead of the 2027 general elections.
5. Independent Legal Examination: We call on credible constitutional lawyers, senior advocates, civil society organizations and relevant professional institutions to examine the judicial history of this dispute and provide informed public assessments of its constitutional implications.
6. Institutional Transparency: We urge the appropriate judicial institutions to demonstrate that legitimate concerns about judicial conduct and public confidence in the administration of justice are treated with seriousness, fairness and institutional responsibility.
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE CONSTITUTION
TCM wishes to make its position unmistakably clear: questioning a judicial decision is not an attack on the judiciary. Demanding accountability is not an attempt to undermine judicial independence. Rather, both are essential elements of a functioning constitutional democracy.
We reject any attempt to intimidate judicial officers or interfere with the lawful administration of justice. At the same time, we reject the notion that judicial decisions should be beyond legitimate public scrutiny.
Where credible concerns arise, they must be examined through the appropriate constitutional and institutional channels. Where legal errors are alleged, appellate remedies must remain available. Where misconduct is established, the relevant oversight institutions must act in accordance with the law.
The credibility of Nigeria’s judiciary depends not only on the authority of its judgments but also on the confidence Nigerians have in the fairness, consistency and integrity of the judicial process.
TCM will therefore continue to advocate for constitutional democracy, institutional accountability, judicial transparency and the protection of citizens’ democratic rights.
Our commitment is not to the impunity of any political institution or individual. It is to the supremacy of the Constitution and the fundamental principles of justice.
No individual, institution or political interest should stand above the Constitution.
Judicial accountability strengthens the judiciary. It does not weaken it.
TCM — ONE MIND, ONE PURPOSE.
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY
The Collective Movement (TCM)
National Secretariat
The Collective Movement (TCM)
