A total of 97 lawyers have been gathered by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to defend its interim leadership—former Senate President David Mark and ex-Minister Rauf Aregbesola—against what it calls a “fake lawsuit” allegedly filed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The legal move was revealed during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday. Barrister Mohammed Sheriff, who is leading the ADC’s legal team, accused the APC of using names of people who are not officially linked to the ADC as plaintiffs in the court case. According to him, the suit was designed to destabilise the opposition party by sowing confusion and mistrust within its ranks.
This response came shortly after a strategic meeting was held between Senator Mark and members of the ADC Kogi State chapter in Abuja. Mark, now serving as the party’s Interim National Chairman, used the opportunity to restate the ADC’s mission and vision for inclusive and transparent leadership.
“I don’t own this party more than any other member… All Nigerians must come together and take ownership of the ADC,” Mark stated at the gathering.
He further noted the need for internal unity within the party, calling on all members to put aside any personal or political disagreements and work together toward building a strong, people-driven political platform. He cautioned that Nigeria’s democracy could collapse if citizens continue to remain inactive and detached.
Taking aim at the APC, Mark questioned the sincerity of the ruling party’s leadership, especially regarding national security and economic issues. “If they admitted that insecurity was bad and promised to improve it but instead made it worse, should Nigerians continue to support them? The answer is no,” he said.
The ADC also accused the APC of engaging in what it described as “Machiavellian politics,” asserting that the legal complaint was based on forged claims and deceptive tactics. Party officials said findings from their internal investigations revealed that the supposed plaintiffs in the lawsuit had no valid membership in either the Kogi or Nasarawa State chapters of the ADC.
“It smacks of desperation that a party entrusted with leading 200 million Nigerians would engage in such dishonesty,” the party said in a statement released alongside the legal announcement.
In a closing remark, Senator Mark appealed for unity across the country, urging citizens to rally around the ADC and its vision for a more inclusive and accountable political future. “Let us work together to rebuild this nation for future generations,” he urged.
Barrister Sheriff confirmed that the 97-member legal team was fully committed and ready to contest what he described as a “politically motivated attack.”
“We are fully prepared to defend the ADC and its leaders against this politically motivated attack,” he said.
