The Court of Appeal's decision to set aside the recognition of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership did not go far enough, according to Lagos lawyer Liborous Oshoma. He argued that the appellate court erred by failing to direct an accelerated hearing on the matter, which remains unresolved since INEC derecognised the party's national leadership. Oshoma noted that the court's order left a vacuum that continues to fuel internal strife within the party. The crisis intensified after INEC recognised a faction led by Hassan Abubakar, citing compliance with party constitution, while the faction led by Dr. Ahmed Isiaka maintained it was the legitimate leadership. Oshoma said judicial intervention should have provided clarity, not prolonged uncertainty. He pointed out that Section 84(10) of the Electoral Act 2022 empowers INEC to recognise party executives, but courts must ensure due process is not bypassed. Without a clear timeline for resolution, the legal vacuum persists.
The Court of Appeal's incomplete intervention has effectively allowed INEC to shape the ADC's fate without definitive judicial oversight. By not mandating an accelerated hearing, the court enabled bureaucratic inertia to deepen a crisis that affects not just the party but voters seeking credible opposition options. Liborous Oshoma's critique exposes a pattern where electoral disputes drag on without urgency, even when legal frameworks exist. For Nigerian democracy, this means more uncertainty than resolution in party leadership battles.
