TMSG Faults ADC Over Claim Sokoto Rally Influenced Court Judgment

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for linking its recent Sokoto campaign rally to a Federal High Court judgment on the party’s leadership dispute.

The group described the claim as misleading and dangerous. It warned that such allegations could undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG faulted the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark for suggesting that the rally influenced the court’s decision.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled against the Mark-led leadership. It upheld a suit by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman, who challenged how Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the ADC.

TMSG said the party’s reaction presented conflicting accounts of the judgment. It noted that the faction first alleged that the ruling had been prepared long before its delivery. It later claimed the decision followed the Sokoto rally.

The group said the contradictory claims raised questions about the faction’s position on the court ruling.

It also accused the ousted leadership of avoiding an honest review of how it took control of the party. Instead, TMSG said, the faction had resorted to political sentiments because the judgment went against it.

The group recalled that ADC leaders had praised the judiciary in April. That followed a Supreme Court decision which vacated an appellate court’s status quo ante bellum order in the leadership dispute.

The earlier order had prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition from the Mark-led executive.

Although the Supreme Court directed the parties to return to the Federal High Court for an expedited hearing, TMSG said the ADC leadership had welcomed the outcome at the time.

It therefore questioned why the same faction now attacked the judiciary after the latest ruling favoured its opponent.

The group urged the affected leaders to obtain the Certified True Copy of the judgment and challenge it at the Court of Appeal if they disagreed with the decision.

TMSG said those who had previously celebrated favourable court decisions should not discredit the judiciary when a ruling went against them.

It also urged Nigerians to remain cautious about the ADC’s conduct ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group accused the party of abandoning the principles of order, decency and respect for the rule of law.