ADA REJECTS COURT ORDER TO IMPOSE OUTSIDER LEADERSHIP ON THE ASSOCIATION
ADA REJECTS COURT ORDER TO IMPOSE OUTSIDER LEADERSHIP ON THE ASSOCIATION
The attention of the All Democratic Alliance [ADA] has been drawn to the judgement delivered by Hon. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
For clarity, the Court did not order the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the All Democratic Alliance as a political party. Rather, the Court directed INEC to release the registration access code to Chief Akin Ricketts to recommence the registration process.
Chief Akin Ricketts, along with other promoters, voluntarily exited the ADA and defected to the African Democratic Congress [ADC]. He is therefore no longer a member of the ADA and possesses no mandate, authority or locus standi to represent or act for the Association in any capacity.
The ADA states, for the record, that the change in the leadership of the Association was effectively and formally communicated to INEC before now, and the Commission had acknowledged and deemed the change to have been effected accordingly. Consequently, the registration process has since been completed by the Prince Uche Secondus and Dr. Umar Ardo-led National Executive Committee.
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We are therefore perplexed and gravely concerned that the Court’s order will have the effect of imposing outsider leadership on the Association and recommencing a concluded registration process. This, in our candid view, is not only an abuse of process, but also vexatious and obnoxious. The effect of the judgement, if implemented, is to hand over the ADA to persons who have abandoned the Association.
The ADA totally disagrees with that aspect of the judgement. We will not allow the collective sacrifice, resolve, and aspirations of our bona fide members to be hijacked by former promoters who have left the Association.
As we speak, our team of lawyers is working round the clock and we have instructed them to immediately file a Stay of Execution and Notice of Appeal. Our substantive appeal is also scheduled to come up today at the Court of Appeal, and we remain confident that the appellate court will correct this anomaly and uphold the true position of law and fact.
The ADA remains committed to democratic principles, the rule of law, due process, and to providing Nigerians with a credible alternative platform for political participation.
Signed:
Hon. Leye Igbabo
National Publicity Secretary, All Democratic Alliance [ADA]
