Ologbondiyan also called on ADC candidates, members and supporters to stay calm, stay alert and remain focused on their campaigns.
By Kehinde Okeowo
African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kola Ologbondiyan, has described the ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu — which sacked the David Mark-led ADC and voided the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate — as a useless academic exercise that cannot stand.
He made the remark on Friday, November 7, while appearing as a guest on an Arise TV programme, simultaneously issuing the statement in an official press release on behalf of the ADC.
According to Ologbondiyan, who is the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the judgment by Justice Lifu has been overtaken by events.
”Lifu’s judgment is useless, an academic exercise and has been overtaken by events. It cannot stop Atiku,” he said.
Ologbondiyan further argued that the ruling cannot stand because another court of coordinate jurisdiction had already decided the matter.
According to him, the judgment has no practical effect and cannot wipe out the earlier decision of a court of equal standing.
He recalled that Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had previously looked into how Mark and Rauf Aregbesola emerged, confirming the leadership change.
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He said Liman held that the handover of leadership from Chief Ralph Nwosu to Mark did not breach the party’s constitution.
He explained that the July 2, 2025 meeting in dispute was a stakeholders’ meeting, adding that it preceded the July 29, 2025 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting where Mark and Aregbesola were selected as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively. He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the NEC meeting.
Ologbondiyan also noted that it was disappointing that Justice Lifu is again linked to another controversial ruling against the ADC.
He recalled that Lifu had earlier delivered a judgment that deregistered the ADC, a ruling which the Court of Appeal subsequently set aside.
Furthermore, he raised questions over the timing of the ruling, which came after the ADC held a successful presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto, noting that it raised concerns regarding political pressure and interference.
He stated that the party’s legal team had already initiated moves to challenge the judgment in the appropriate courts, including seeking interim relief and a stay of execution where necessary, pending appeal.
”For the avoidance of doubt, Sen. David Mark remains the National Chairman recognised by the party, while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola remains its National Secretary,” he declared.
