By Tony Moses, Makurdi

The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has expressed deep sorrow over the death of retired Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adam Onum, describing his passing as a painful loss to the judiciary, Benue State and the nation.

Ortom in a condolence message signed by his Media Assistant, Paul Zege released at the weekend, recalled with fondness his administration’s appointment of Justice Onum as Chief Judge of Benue State, a responsibility he discharged with dignity, professionalism and a deep sense of commitment to the administration of justice.

He described the late jurist as a distinguished judicial officer whose years of service were marked by dedication to the rule of law, respect for judicial institutions and the pursuit of justice.

The former governor noted that Justice Onum’s contribution to the development of the judiciary in Benue State will forever be remembered, while his legacy of service will continue to inspire those who believe in the importance of an independent and credible justice system.

Ortom extended deep condolences to the family of the deceased, members of the Benue State Judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, friends and associates of the late jurist.

He prayed that Almighty God grants the family the fortitude to bear this painful loss and give eternal rest to the soul of the departed.

By Timothy Obasi, Abuja

Unhappy with the judgment by Justice Peter Lifu on the Sen.David Mark’s led National leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Associates of the former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, under the ageis of United Friends For Atiku ,, have petitioned the United Nation, UN, African Union, AU and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS over Court Judgement that voided David Mark led executives.

Making this declaration at a Press Conference in Abuja on Thursday, the group described the judgment by Justice Peter Lifu as unacceptable and a plot to destroy democracy in Nigeria and predetermine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.

It called on the International Community to pay close attention to the developments unfolding in the democratic process in the country, urging the world body not to sit on the fence.

The Association warned the judiciary not to allow itself to be weaponized against the rule of Law and democracy in Nigeria

“Against this background, we demand the following:
To the Judiciary: Uphold your independence. Do not allow the courts to be used as a tool for political elimination.
We urge the Court of Appeal to accord any appeal arising from this judgment the utmost urgency.

“To INEC: Discharge your responsibilities strictly in accordance with the Constitution and finalised judicial decisions, immune from the political preferences of the incumbent.

“To the Incumbent and Political Actors: Cease the weaponisation of state institutions. True political stability comes from fair competition.

“We urgently call upon the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and our international democratic partners—including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union—to pay close attention to the unfolding crisis in Nigeria. Do not wait for the total collapse of the democratic order before intervening. We urge you to hold the incumbent administration accountable to international democratic standards, scrutinise these judicial anomalies, and deploy necessary diplomatic pressure to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral process is not hijacked through institutional subterfuge.

“The stability of the West African sub-region hinges on the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.. We call on Nigerians to remain peaceful, vigilant, and committed to constitutional democracy. Disagreement must not become violence, and frustration must not become an excuse for lawlessness.

“However, let this serve as a definitive warning to those orchestrating this democratic heist: While we continually caution our supporters and the general public not to engage in the breakdown of law and order, the government must remember a fundamental truth of human nature. When a goat is pushed to the wall, it fights back, even against its owner.

“Do not push the Nigerian people to the wall. Do not test the limits of their patience by stealing their choices in the courtroom before they can reach the ballot box.

“Nigeria is bigger than any election, and democracy is bigger than any government. It does not belong to the Presidential Villa; it belongs to the Nigerian people.
Do not extinguish the alternatives and then expect the people to celebrate a hollow election.
Do not shrink the democratic space and mistake the people’s silence for consent.

“Let the courts interpret the law fairly. Let the institutions operate freely. Let political parties compete. Let the international community bear witness.
And, above all, let the Nigerian people decide”

By Godwin Okafor,Abuja

Less than 70 days to the upcoming 2027 election the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.

It also invalidated all decisions taken by the party under the leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The court also voided the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, as well as the appointments of other national officers and the nominations of candidates presented by the party for the 2027 elections.

Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, holding that the committee lacked the constitutional authority to assume control of the party and conduct its affairs.

The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee emerged as the party’s leadership.

Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the leadership of the party.

He consequently approached the court to challenge the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership, seeking an order invalidating its decisions and restraining Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

Upholding the plaintiff’s case, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership contravened the provisions of the ADC constitution, the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

The court further directed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not recognise or act on decisions reached at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 27, 2025.

The decision effectively invalidated the actions taken by the party under the leadership that emerged from the disputed process, including its preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking after the judgment, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), counsel to Gombe, said the ruling nullified all actions taken by the party since the disputed NEC meeting.

“All the actions taken by the ADC as a party since July 27 to date stand annulled,” Fagbemi said.

Another counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the judgment had left the ADC without candidates for elective positions in the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the implication of the ruling extends beyond the party’s presidential ticket to its candidates for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The judgment therefore places the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections in uncertainty, particularly the status of its presidential candidate, Atiku, and other candidates who had emerged through processes conducted under the now-invalidated leadership.

However, the ADC indicated that it would challenge the ruling at a higher court.

Nkemakolam Ukandu, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the party would appeal the judgment.

The ruling came barely 24 hours after Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as a presidential candidate, held a campaign rally in Sokoto State.

The development represents a major setback for the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections, as the court’s decision has thrown into question the legitimacy of its leadership structure and the validity of the decisions taken under the Mark-led caretaker committee.