“Justice delayed is democracy denied”: Obidient Movement pressures Supreme Court to end ADC leadership crisis

The Obidient Movement has issued a direct appeal to the Supreme Court, demanding an immediate and definitive ruling on the leadership dispute paralysing the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that further delay risks undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy ahead of 2027.

In a press statement signed Friday by National Coordinator Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the Movement described the apex court as “the last refinery of justice” and said the unresolved ADC case has created a “leadership vacuum” that leaves thousands of party members in limbo and threatens to disenfranchise voters banking on the ADC and its coalition partners.

■ “Room for Mischief”

“At a time when the political landscape requires absolute clarity, any prolonged delay in pronouncing a final verdict provides room for mischief, fuels factionalism, and undermines preparations for a robust multi-party contest,” the statement read.

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The Supreme Court had on April 22 reserved judgement in the ADC leadership tussle between contending factions.

With the 2027 electoral cycle gathering pace, the Obidient Movement argued that the dispute is “no longer a mere internal affair” but a matter of national interest.

● INEC, Primary Elections, and Coalition Talks

Tanko noted that both INEC and the voting public need a settled party executive to engage with, especially as primary windows open and opposition coalition negotiations intensify.

“The continued ambiguity surrounding the party’s executive structure threatens not only the internal stability of the ADC but the broader viability of opposition consolidation in Nigeria,” he said.

■ Stakes for 2027

The ADC is a key platform in ongoing talks to present a joint opposition presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

A fractured ADC leadership, the Movement warned, weakens the coalition’s ability to present a credible alternative.

The Obidient Movement urged the Supreme Court to “expedite action,” saying a swift pronouncement would “stabilise the political atmosphere” and allow the opposition to focus on nation-building.

“We remain confident in the wisdom of the apex court and trust that the judiciary will remain the steadfast guardian of our democratic process,” Tanko concluded.