Jun 15, 2026

Mark Reassures Party of 2027 Ballot Amid Deregistration Ruling

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in politics

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ABUJA — The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Mark, has urged party members, supporters and candidates not to despair following a Federal High Court judgment that purportedly ordered the deregistration of the ADC and several other political parties.

He has given a firm assurance that the ADC will appear on the ballot for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The chairman spoke on Monday while receiving a delegation of ADC candidates at his Abuja base. He described the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu as “an arrow fired at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy” and expressed confidence that superior courts would set it aside.

Senator Mark highlighted a critical procedural flaw: the Court of Appeal had already granted a stay of proceedings in the matter and adjourned further hearing to October 27, 2027.

“How can a judgment be validly delivered while the subsisting order of the appellate court remains in force?” he asked.

“The judgment cannot stand. It will be set aside because it does not pass the test of law and due process.

Our democracy must be protected from actions that seek to undermine the constitutional rights of political parties and the choices available to Nigerians.”

Senator Mark called on all party structures across the country to remain calm, focused and committed. He stressed that the current development represents only a temporary setback that would be resolved through the judicial process.

“The ADC will be on the ballot in 2027,” he declared. “I assure all our candidates, members and supporters that this temporary setback will be overcome through the judicial process. We remain resolute and confident in the rule of law.”

The ADC’s position carries weight in Nigeria’s multi-party landscape. Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, the country has maintained a constitutional commitment to political pluralism under Sections 40 and 221 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered dozens of parties over the years, periodically pruning those that fail to demonstrate national spread or electoral performance.

While such clean-ups aim to strengthen the system, they have often triggered debates about whether regulatory or judicial actions inadvertently shrink the space for smaller parties that offer alternative voices.

Legal observers note that the existence of a Court of Appeal stay order typically renders contradictory actions by a lower court vulnerable on appeal.

The hierarchy of courts exists precisely to prevent the kind of procedural conflict Senator Mark has identified. This principle protects not only the ADC but the integrity of the entire judicial process in politically sensitive matters.

For the candidates who visited the national chairman, the meeting provided direct reassurance at a time when grassroots mobilisation for 2027 is intensifying.

Many had expressed concern that deregistration could disrupt their campaigns or force last-minute platform changes.

Senator Mark’s message was unambiguous: the party leadership is treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves while refusing to allow legal distractions to derail organisational work.

The development also tests the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

A ruling that removes parties from the electoral equation without final appellate resolution risks narrowing voter options and weakening competition.

Conversely, a successful appeal would reinforce the message that no institution, including the judiciary, is above due process.

The ADC has chosen the constitutional route—appeal and public reassurance—rather than street protests or inflammatory rhetoric, a choice that aligns with its stated commitment to strengthening democratic norms.

Through its Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party has maintained a steady flow of information to members and the public.

As the nation moves closer to 2027, the ADC’s legal battle will be watched closely by other smaller parties, civil society groups and international observers monitoring the health of Nigeria’s democracy.

The outcome will influence not only the number of parties on the ballot but also public confidence in the fairness of the pre-election environment.

Senator Mark’s intervention has at least achieved one immediate goal: it has replaced despair with renewed determination among the party faithful. The ADC, he insists, is staying in the ring and preparing to contest.