TMSG to ADC: Linking Sokoto rally to court ruling on party crisis is dangerous, misleading

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has expressed concern over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) linking its recent campaign rally in Sokoto to a Federal High Court’s judgement which sacked the David Mark-led leadership of the party and invalidating the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the January 16 2027 Presidential election.

This, according to the group, is a misleading, mischievous and dangerous narrative by people who are promising to build respective institutions in the country.

In a statement by its Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, the group said it was dangerous to push a false allegation that their campaign rally forced the hand of the court on the party’s leadership crisis.

The statement read in part, “It is interesting that a party which, in one breath, claimed it had reasons to believe that the judgment which sacked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ‘s national executive led by former Senate President David Mark was written long before now, and in another breath claimed it was a response to a campaign rally which held less than 24 hours earlier.

“We find it laughable that the ousted ADC leadership is not even sure of what to believe about the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which upheld the suit filed by the party’s former National Deputy Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe challenging the process through which Mark and other members of the then caretaker committee took charge of the party.

“But rather than reflect and take an introspective look at the gangster-like manner they took over the ADC, they resorted to playing up needless sentiments and gaslighting the nation because the outcome of the suit did not favour them.

“Curiously, these were the same people that, not too long ago, celebrated and hailed the judiciary in April this year when the Supreme Court vacated a status quo ante bellum order by the Appeal Court on the leadership dispute, which led the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition from the David Mark-led executive committee.

Although the apex Court ordered the two parties to return to the Federal High Court for speedy hearing of the matter, the order to INEC for the recognition of Mark as party chairman elicited high praise from the party leaders.

“So it is worrisome that now that the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ruled in favour of the other party in the dispute, the losing faction has now resorted to blackmail.

“We believe that rather than issue subtle threats of violence, they should simply do what they say they will do; wait for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment and proceed to the Appeal Court.”

The group said it was wrong for a group of people who once benefitted from the judiciary to turn around to malign the same institution after losing a court case.

Maintaining that the ADC has irretrievably disconnected from the path of order, decency and rule of law, the group urged Nigerians to be wary of the unstable character and antics of such a party ahead of the forthcoming general elections.