Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court should be arrested for allegedly acting in contempt of a subsisting Court of Appeal order in the case seeking the deregistration of the party.
Abdullahi spoke on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Monday, while reacting to the court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties.
The ADC spokesperson alleged that individuals linked to the presidency were behind the legal action against the party.
“It’s not a question of inference,” Abdullahi said.
“The person who is championing this works in the office of the chief of staff to the president.”
When asked to identify the individual, Abdullahi said he could not immediately recall the person’s name but claimed he was a former member of the House of Representatives from the South-East.
“He is not hiding. His name is there,” he said.
Abdullahi also questioned the involvement of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice in the matter, Lateef Fagbemi.
“In that matter, the attorney-general and minister of justice was the second defendant,” he said.
“A few days ago, he emerged as a plaintiff. What absurdity.”
A SUIT THAT DOES NO HARM TO THE PLAINTIFF
The ADC spokesman argued that the plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate how they would be harmed if the affected parties were allowed to participate in the 2027 elections.
“The question we are asking is: what injury will these individuals who call themselves former legislators suffer if ADC and these other parties contest elections in 2027?” he asked.
“Apart from, of course, maybe the breakfast they are enjoying will come to an end.”
Abdullahi further alleged that Justice Lifu acted contrary to a directive of the Court of Appeal.
“You can’t base legality on illegality,” he said.
“Justice Lifu is running in contempt of court.”
“Justice Lifu should be arrested because he is acting in contempt of court, which is a criminal act.”
According to him, the appellate court had ordered that no action should be taken on the matter pending the hearing of an appeal scheduled for October 27.
“The Court of Appeal says don’t act on this until I hear it on October 27,” he said.
“So on what basis did he deliver the judgment?”
Abdullahi insisted that the ruling lacked legal merit and would not stand.
“For us in the ADC, what we’re convinced about is that what they have done has no leg to stand on,” he said.
The ADC had earlier rejected the judgment ordering its deregistration, describing it as an attempt to weaken opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party also announced plans to challenge the ruling through legal channels and petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the conduct of the presiding judge.
