RismadarVoice Reporters
November 6, 2026
The presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, has warned that prolonged political litigation and disputes over party leadership could weaken opposition participation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Joseph, popularly known as Fadojoe, raised the concerns following Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment invalidating the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.
In a statement attributed to his Operation Rescue Nigeria 2027 platform, Joseph said his intervention was motivated by concerns about democratic participation rather than support for any particular political party.
He argued that legal disputes affecting one opposition party could have wider consequences for other political organisations and candidates.
Joseph acknowledged that political parties must comply with electoral laws but maintained that judicial processes should also protect citizens’ rights to participate in democratic elections.
He expressed concern that opposition parties were increasingly spending time resolving leadership disputes and defending their electoral positions in court instead of presenting policy proposals to voters.
The AA candidate also urged President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to recognise the importance of political competition and a functioning opposition.
He referenced Tinubu’s involvement in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement during military rule, arguing that democratic freedoms should remain protected regardless of political affiliation.
The controversy followed a judgment delivered on November 5 by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court invalidated the David Mark-led ADC leadership and decisions taken under its authority, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku.
The ruling arose from a suit filed by former ADC National Deputy Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which the party’s leadership emerged.
The ADC rejected the judgment, arguing that it conflicted with an earlier Federal High Court decision concerning its leadership.
The party has announced plans to challenge the ruling through the appellate process.
Meanwhile, Joseph called for the protection of political rights and urged relevant institutions to ensure that electoral disputes are resolved in accordance with the law.
He maintained that democratic stability requires credible institutions, respect for judicial independence and opportunities for political parties to compete within the constitutional framework.
The legal dispute remains unresolved, with the ADC seeking to overturn the judgment ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.
