ADC judgment could cause civil war if not properly managed—Amaechi
Amaechi Warns of Potential Unrest Following Court Ruling on ADC Leadership
By Olayinka Ajayi
Rotimi Amaechi, the vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Minister of Transportation, has expressed concerns that a recent Federal High Court ruling may lead to unrest within the party.
On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark. The court’s decision also nullified the process that selected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
Justice Peter Lifu’s ruling not only overturned Mark’s leadership but also voided the appointment of former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. Additionally, the court ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not recognize decisions made during the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by Nafiu Gombe, the former ADC Deputy National Chairman for the North-East. Gombe challenged the legitimacy of the caretaker committee’s leadership transition under Mark’s direction.
In an interview with Mainland 98.3 FM, Amaechi cautioned that the judgment could escalate tensions, stating, “It could cause a civil war if not properly managed.” He emphasized the need for party members to keep their emotions in check following the court’s decision.
Amaechi claimed that the situation is not indicative of a rift within the ADC but rather a manipulation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilize the party ahead of the upcoming elections. He asserted that the APC is threatened by the ADC’s potential to garner votes, especially with other presidential candidates in the South-West region.
Discussing his experience during the 2023 APC presidential primaries, Amaechi reflected on his decision to heed the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s advice to refrain from campaigning. “The only mistake I made was listening to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who told me: ‘don’t campaign, don’t do anything; I will announce you as my candidate.’ I didn’t do deals; Tinubu did deals. I will never play religious politics,” he said.
Amaechi remarked on the tactics employed during the primaries and reiterated his commitment to an inclusive political approach, stating he would not pursue strategies that could create division among religious groups.
