By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former Edo State Governor and National Legal Adviser of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, has faulted the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party, describing it as legally problematic and inconsistent with three previous judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
Osunbor argued that Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered Thursday’s judgment in Abuja, failed to take into consideration existing judicial pronouncements on the protracted leadership dispute within the opposition party.
He warned that conflicting court judgments could trigger serious political and constitutional complications, drawing parallels with the political crisis surrounding the emergence of the late General Sani Abacha as Head of State following the removal of Ernest Shonekan’s Interim National Government.
Justice Lifu had, in his ruling, nullified the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC and recognised Nafiu Bala Gombe’s position in the party’s leadership dispute.
The judgment has sparked fresh controversy within the opposition party, with the Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) insisting that the ruling contradicts previous court decisions on the matter.
However, Osunbor maintained that the party’s leadership structure remained on a sound legal footing despite the latest development.
He argued that where any party was dissatisfied with an existing judgment, the appropriate legal step was to challenge it through an appeal rather than approach another judge of a court of coordinate jurisdiction to obtain a contradictory decision.
The ADC legal adviser also defended the process that produced Mark as the party’s national chairman, insisting that the leadership transition was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
He urged ADC members and political candidates not to allow the court ruling to distract them from their political engagements and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Osunbor further called for preventive diplomatic engagement to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process, warning against waiting until a breakdown of law and order before seeking international intervention.
According to him, Nigeria needs assistance that would prevent political crises rather than humanitarian intervention after violence and instability have erupted.
“We don’t want that. The help we want is to prevent crises from happening,” he said.
He stressed that preventing political conflict was far preferable to a situation in which international humanitarian organisations, including Doctors Without Borders, would have to deploy medical personnel, supplies and relief materials to Nigeria.
The former governor also called on stakeholders in the country’s democratic process to allow the electoral system to function without interference, emphasising the need to protect democratic institutions and prevent avoidable political tensions.
Osunbor further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was unsettled by the emergence of a formidable opposition candidate capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
He said the timing of the judgment, coming shortly after the ADC’s presidential campaign activities in Sokoto, had raised questions about the motives behind the legal challenge.
The ADC chieftain’s comments come amid escalating tensions over the party’s leadership crisis, with the latest court ruling threatening to deepen divisions within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
