By Ghazali Ibrahim
Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has warned that the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the party’s leadership could trigger a civil war if not properly handled.
Amaechi raised the concern during an interview on Mainland 98.3 FM’s The Situation Room, while reacting to the court ruling that sacked the David Mark-led leadership of the opposition party and invalidated decisions taken under its leadership.
“It could cause a civil war if not properly managed,” Amaechi said.
The former Minister of Transportation disclosed that he, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and ADC National Chairman David Mark held a meeting shortly after they received news of the judgment, urging party members and supporters to remain calm.
“When we heard the news, we quickly met, myself and the presidential candidate and the chairman of the party, and we said: ‘Please, lower the tempo,’” he said.
Amaechi also dismissed suggestions that the crisis resulted from an internal disagreement within the ADC, insisting that there was no division within the party.
He alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind efforts to destabilise the opposition party, claiming that the development was intended to frighten voters following the ADC’s growing political activities.
“When they saw what happened in Sokoto, they began to cause a crisis that would frighten voters. Looking at things, which other party is opposing the APC other than ADC?” he said.
The court judgment, delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, followed a suit instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Gombe had challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the party’s caretaker leadership assumed control following the departure of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
In its ruling, the court declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and nullified its actions, including the process that produced Atiku as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The judgment also affected the emergence of former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Secretary and other nominations made under the disputed leadership.
However, the ADC has rejected the ruling and moved to challenge it at the Court of Appeal. The party also filed an application seeking a stay of execution and notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the pending legal challenge.
Atiku has equally vowed to challenge the judgment, maintaining that the court’s decision would not end his presidential ambition.
Amaechi’s warning comes amid growing political uncertainty surrounding the ADC’s leadership and its preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the outcome of the pending appeal expected to determine the legal status of the party’s leadership and candidates.
