The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says it is fully prepared to defend itself in court following a lawsuit challenging its interim leadership, revealing that at least 97 lawyers have volunteered to represent the party.
In a statement issued by its media unit on Tuesday, the party alleged that the suit—filed by three individuals at the Federal High Court in Abuja—was orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) using names of people who are not registered members of the ADC.
The plaintiffs—Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila—are seeking the removal of former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman of the ADC.
They are also challenging the legitimacy of other coalition leaders appointed during the party’s recent restructuring.
According to court documents in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1328, the ADC is listed as the first defendant, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the party’s immediate past National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, are second and third defendants respectively.
Senator David Mark, former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola (interim national secretary), and ex-Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (interim national publicity secretary) are named as the fourth, fifth, and sixth defendants in the case.
The ADC strongly refuted the credibility of the plaintiffs, insisting that their names do not appear in the party’s digital or physical registers in either Kogi or Nasarawa states—where they purportedly claim membership.
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“It smacks of desperation that a party elected in charge of the lives of no fewer than 200 million people can engage in shopping for the names of its citizens in pursuit of Machiavellian politics,” the ADC said in its statement, directly accusing the APC of manipulating the legal process to destabilize its 2027 coalition efforts.
Meanwhile, the party’s legal arm, the National Legal Support Group, says it is already mobilised for court proceedings.
Speaking in Abuja, the group’s leader, Barrister Mohammed Sheriff, confirmed that no fewer than 97 lawyers have committed to defending the ADC and its interim leaders in the ongoing legal battle.
“This is a legal and political ambush, but we are ready,” Sheriff said.
“The ADC’s mandate to offer Nigerians a credible alternative in 2027 will not be derailed by underhand tactics.”
The suit, seen as an early test of the ADC’s internal stability and the viability of its emerging coalition, has added a new layer of political intrigue as parties begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.