Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  of instigating the judgement by the Federal High Court, Abuja, sacking the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and voiding Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy.

Mr Obi, in a statement on Thursday, said, “I do not challenge the ruling of the court. The court of law is constituted to determine disputes according to the law.”

“My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty. It is not good to have too many uncertainties about candidates and parties a few weeks before a presidential election,” Mr Obi said. 

Berating the APC, Mr Obi said “This instability is obviously engineered by the ruling party, just as they have done against me in the Labour Party and continue to do so to close down civic space for a robust campaign. It is also from the same rulebook that manufactures violence against us in our campaigns.

“One mark of democracy is that at all times, it is voters and not courts that choose leaders. I trust in the judiciary. As a public officer, I have shown deep respect for the judiciary. I appeal that we protect the integrity of democracy by not undermining the free and fair choice of candidates.”

For Mr Obi, sustaining democracy in Nigeria, amid encroaching military rule in West Africa, should strengthen the country’s resolve to protect opposition politics and not stamp out opposition parties.

“It is because of the importance of opposition to the sustenance of democracy that I have always promised that, as president, I will take a special interest in ensuring opposition parties are stable and thriving, and that opposition candidates are not persecuted out of electoral contests,” he said.

Mr Obi’s statement followed the court’s judgement, sacking Mr Mark and voiding Mr Abubakar’s presidential primary election less than three months before the presidential election scheduled for January 2027.

The ADC on Thursday said President Bola Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) wants to set Nigeria on fire, condemning Justice Peter Lifu’s judgment.

In a statement by ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the “Lifu Judgement shows the APC wants to set Nigeria on fire” because the “Sokoto rally has sent the ruling party into a panic.”

“This is not the time to play silly games with the stability of this country. Nigeria belongs to Nigerians, not to the APC. The presidency is not an inheritance. If the President thinks he has performed well in office, why is he afraid of competition? If the APC thinks that its policies and candidates are popular, why don’t they subject themselves to free and fair elections?” the ADC said.