Go To Appeal Court, Stop Threatening Nigeria With Fire And Brimstone — Shehu Sani Tells ADC

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has urged the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to challenge the court judgment nullifying its leadership and Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ticket through an appeal rather than threats against the country.

Sani made the call in a post on his verified X handle on Thursday while reacting to the party’s warning to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, following the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja.

The former lawmaker described the ADC’s response as unnecessary, insisting that threatening the country with “fire and brimstone” would not overturn the decision. He advised the party to prepare its legal arguments and pursue an appeal instead of escalating the political tension surrounding the ruling.

According to Sani, the crisis confronting the ADC was largely avoidable, arguing that the coalition leaders should have established a new political party rather than adopting an existing platform already burdened by leadership disputes and legal battles.

He maintained that the coalition members were aware of the internal problems within the ADC before deciding to use it as their political platform. Sani argued that they could have approached the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register a fresh party with an undisputed constitution and leadership structure.

The former senator also pointed to the decision by prominent opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, David Mark, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola, to adopt the ADC instead of building a new political organisation.

He insisted that the party’s current predicament was the consequence of that decision, stressing that its leaders should accept responsibility for the challenges they are now facing. He said the coalition had entered the party despite knowing about its existing disputes.

Sani further argued that Nigeria should not be dragged into the internal political struggle of the ADC, adding that the country was bigger than the ambitions of Atiku, Mark or any political organisation. He maintained that the appropriate response to the judgment was to pursue the available legal process.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had nullified the David Mark-led ADC leadership and voided Atiku’s presidential ticket for the 2027 election. The ruling came shortly after the party’s presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, prompting the ADC to accuse the APC of desperation and warn the ruling party against playing with fire.