“We Paid, Yet The Judgment Remains Out Of Reach” — ADC Campaign Council Questions Justice Lifu’s Delay In Releasing Atiku Ruling

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has demanded the immediate release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections and removed the Senator David Mark-led national leadership.

The council accused the Federal High Court in Abuja of withholding the certified judgment despite formal applications submitted by lawyers representing parties in the suit and payment of the prescribed fees.

In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the campaign council expressed concern that the continued unavailability of the judgment was preventing the affected parties from obtaining the official record of the court’s orders and fully exercising their right to challenge the decision.

The controversy followed the November 5, 2026, judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which invalidated the David Mark-led ADC leadership and the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

According to the council, counsel for the first defendant formally applied for the certified copy of the judgment on November 6, 2026, while counsel for the third defendant submitted a similar application on November 5, the day the judgment was delivered.

It maintained that both applications were accompanied by payment of the assessed fees and carried the Federal High Court’s official “PAID” stamp.

Despite fulfilling those requirements, the council alleged that the applicants had yet to receive the judgment.

“Our counsel applied for the certified copy and paid the required fee, yet the judgment remains out of reach. This is an indefensible denial of access to a ruling that directly affects the party and its members. If the judgment was ready, there is no excuse for keeping it from the parties. Release it now,” the statement read.

The campaign council further explained that the lawyers had complied with every requirement necessary to obtain the certified judgment, questioning why the document remained unavailable after Justice Lifu reportedly indicated that it was ready.

“Our counsel for the first defendant filed a formal application for the certified true copy on 6 November 2026 and paid the assessed fee. Counsel for the third defendant applied the day before, on the very day the judgment was delivered. Both applications carry the Federal High Court’s ‘PAID’ stamp. Every requirement was met. Yet the applicants are still being denied the judgment.

“This is not a routine administrative delay. It is a denial of access to a court decision that directly affects the rights of the parties. Justice Lifu declared the judgment ready; the applicants paid for its certified copy; the court has acknowledged payment. Why, then, are they still being kept in the dark? A judge cannot announce that a judgment is ready and leave litigants to chase the document they need to understand and challenge it.”

The council argued that the judgment affected not only the leadership of a major opposition political party but also the rights of its members and candidates seeking to participate in the 2027 general elections.

It maintained that withholding the certified judgment deprived the affected parties of the opportunity to examine the precise orders made by the court and respond through the appropriate judicial processes.

“The judgment concerns the leadership of a major political party and the rights of its members. Withholding its certified copy prevents the affected parties from knowing the exact orders made and responding fully through the courts. If the ruling is sound, there is no justification for keeping it out of reach,” the statement added.

The council consequently demanded that the Federal High Court immediately release the judgment and provide a public explanation for the delay in responding to the applications.

“The Federal High Court must release the judgment immediately and explain why paid applications have gone unanswered. Public confidence cannot survive a process in which consequential judgments are announced, but their official records are denied to the parties,” it stated.

The ADC campaign council also questioned the timing of the judgment, pointing out that it was delivered shortly after the party launched its presidential campaign in Sokoto.

According to Shaibu, the sequence of events surrounding the delivery of the judgment and the alleged failure to release its certified copy raised concerns that required an explanation.

“The timing and conduct of this process are indefensible. Justice Lifu delivered the judgment days after the ADC launched its Sokoto campaign; he then declared the copies ready, yet the parties’ paid applications remain unanswered,” the council said.

It further questioned whether the circumstances surrounding the judgment and the alleged delay in providing its official record could be connected to an attempt to undermine the opposition party’s electoral activities.

“The public is entitled to ask whether this was a judicial process—or a calculated attempt to deliver a political blow while denying the party the document needed to challenge it. Whoever believes that withholding the judgment will bury these questions or shield those responsible from scrutiny is gravely mistaken.”

The council, however, presented these concerns as questions arising from the timing and handling of the judgment, rather than as established findings of misconduct.

Reiterating its demands, the campaign council insisted that the Federal High Court must release the certified judgment without further delay and explain why the applications submitted by the lawyers had not been honoured.

It warned that continued withholding of the judgment could further undermine public confidence in the judiciary, particularly because of the political and electoral consequences of the ruling.

“We demand the immediate release of the certified judgment and a public explanation for the delay. Every day it is withheld deepens the damage to confidence in the judiciary,” the statement read.

“Those responsible must understand that the ADC will pursue every lawful remedy, place the full record before the appropriate authorities and ensure that Nigerians know what has happened. No party, official or judicial officer is beyond scrutiny when the rights of citizens and the integrity of the electoral process are at stake.”

The council maintained that the party would not be discouraged from challenging the judgment through the judicial system, insisting that access to the certified decision was essential to the exercise of its legal rights.

“The ADC will not be intimidated or denied its right to challenge this ruling. Any attempt to obstruct that right will be met with every lawful action available, and those responsible will be held to account through the proper legal and institutional channels,” it declared.

The statement concluded by emphasising that judicial decisions affecting the rights of political parties and their members must remain accessible to the parties concerned.

“Justice must be done, its record must be accessible, and the consequences of denying the parties that access must not be evaded,” the council stated.

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