ADC accuses Tinubu, APC of obstructing opposition after Kaduna govt sealed Arewa House

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using public authority to obstruct opposition activities following the sealing of Arewa House in Kaduna and the release of a controversial court judgement affecting the party’s leadership.

The party said the closure of Arewa House, the proposed venue for a consultation between its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Northern stakeholders on Wednesday, was part of a pattern of actions to frustrate its political activities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Phrank Shaibu, director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, also criticised the timing of the release of the certified copy of the judgement delivered by Peter Lifu, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Mr Shaibu said Mr Lifu released the duly authenticated copy on the final day of the seven days prescribed by the Constitution, leaving the party with limited time to study the decision and prepare its legal response.

He said, “Releasing a consequential judgement on the last permitted day leaves the African Democratic Congress with precious little time to study it and prepare its next legal steps.”

Citing Section 294(1) of the 1999 Constitution, Mr Shaibu said courts were required to furnish parties with duly authenticated copies of their decisions within seven days of delivery.

He added that the party would study the judgement and pursue every lawful remedy available to it.

“The timing of the release raises serious concern, especially as our party continues to face actions that obstruct its campaign and political consultations,” he said.

Arewa House closure

On the sealing of Arewa House, the ADC said the Kaduna State Government had prevented it from using the historic facility for Atiku’s planned consultation with Northern stakeholders.

Mr Shaibu described Arewa House as part of the shared heritage of the diverse people of Northern Nigeria, saying its closure over a political consultation was an affront to their culture and dignity.

He quoted Atiku as saying, “My campaign team had proposed the Arewa House as the venue for our consultation with stakeholders on Thursday and, today, the APC government decided to seal the building.”

The ADC also recalled an earlier incident during its campaign flag-off in Sokoto, alleging that the APC-led government in the state attempted to frustrate the event.

“This is a troubling pattern. During our campaign flag-off in Sokoto, the APC government also tried to frustrate us. The people stood firm, and their will prevailed,” Mr Shaibu said.

He said the latest development in Kaduna showed that the ruling party was determined to restrict the opposition’s political activities.

“We hold President Bola Tinubu and the APC politically responsible for this pattern of obstruction,” he added.

“An outgoing president and a ruling party should respect democratic competition, not use public authority to impede the opposition, restrict political consultation or weaken Nigerians’ right to choose.”

The ADC said it would not be intimidated and thanked Nigerians for their support, promising to continue its consultations and take its message to voters.

Backstory

The development comes amid a leadership crisis in the ADC following a 5 November judgement by Mr Lifu, which nullified Mr Mark’s emergence as the party’s national chairman and voided actions taken by his leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The judgement followed a suit filed by Nafiu Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership after the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Mr Gombe argued that he was entitled to assume the party’s leadership following Mr Nwosu’s resignation.

The ruling also cast uncertainty over the 2027 presidential ticket produced through the party’s primary organised by the Mark-led leadership, which produced Atiku as its candidate.

The judgement prompted protests by ADC supporters and candidates at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, demanding the release of its certified true copy to enable the party to appeal.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the protesters carried placards and called on the judiciary to release the judgement, while also urging the National Judicial Council to intervene.

The ADC had earlier petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, alleging that the delay in releasing the judgement was frustrating its constitutional right of appeal.

The party said it applied for the certified copy immediately after the judgement was delivered on 5 November and paid the prescribed fees but had yet to receive it.

The party has maintained that it will challenge the judgement at the Court of Appeal.