Former Senate President and Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has said the Nigerian judiciary is currently facing scrutiny following a recent Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of five political parties.
Mark made the remarks on Tuesday during the ADC Strategic Communications Retreat held in Abuja, where he reacted to the ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court.
The court had ordered the deregistration of the ADC, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements.
In a statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark insisted that the ADC itself is not the subject of the controversy.
According to him, the real issue now under public scrutiny is the integrity and handling of the judicial process.
“The ADC is not on trial. Rather, it is the judiciary that is on trial, and Nigerians are watching closely how the National Judicial Council will respond,” he said.
Mark alleged that the court decision raised concerns because it appeared to disregard a previous directive from the Court of Appeal allegedly instructing a stay of proceedings.
The ADC chairman further claimed that the judgment contained inconsistencies, including what he described as conflicting interpretations of the party’s legal status within a short period.
He called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review the circumstances surrounding the ruling and ensure that judicial processes are properly followed.
Mark, however, urged party members to remain calm and not be discouraged by the legal developments.
He expressed confidence that the ADC would overcome its current challenges and emerge stronger ahead of future elections.
“We will go through this turbulence because we are prepared for it,” he told party members at the retreat.
Mark also encouraged the party’s communication team to develop stronger messaging strategies capable of attracting wider public support, including voters from other political parties.
According to him, effective communication will be key to positioning the ADC as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape.
He emphasized the need for strategic engagement that highlights the party’s vision and policy direction ahead of upcoming elections.
