Stakeholders in the leading Opposition Political Party have raised alarm, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of deploying the courts to destabilize the African Democratic Congress, ADC. They alleged that the ruling APC is purportedly manipulating the court system to prolong legal battles and delay judgements to create apprehension and uncertainty of participation in the 2027 general elections.

The Director of Media and Communications, ADC Media Organization, Surajo Al Mustapha, in a statement on Monday, alleged: "Reports have also emerged suggesting that the presidency is mounting pressure on Supreme Court judges to deliver a ruling against David Mark.

"Whether verified or not, such claims deepen public concern about the independence of the judiciary.

Al-Mustapha decried that "At a time when focus should be on safeguarding justice and institutional integrity, party members are instead divided along lines of “Obi or nothing” or “Atiku is the best candidate,” debates that appear premature given the circumstances.

Al-Mustapha maintained that from a legal standpoint, the case involving Nafiu Bala is widely viewed as weak, particularly, considering established precedents in which the courts have consistently held that they lack jurisdiction over internal party disputes.

"In principle, there is little basis to expect a different outcome at the Supreme Court.

"However, given the realities of Nigerian politics, there remains a concern that technicalities could be invoked to reach an unexpected decision.

"In more established democracies, such a matter would likely have been resolved swiftly, rather than prolonged through multiple layers of litigation," Al-Mustapha declared.

Al-Mustapha said that at this critical moment, the priority for supporters of the ADC should be to ensure that justice prevails and that the judiciary upholds the rule of law without external influence.

He asserted that internal disagreements over candidacy risk weakening the party’s collective position. Al-Mustapha said that it would be more constructive for supporters to allow due process to conclude before engaging in debates about who should emerge as the party’s candidate.

Al-Mustapha stated that advocacy should focus on presenting the strengths of preferred candidates, rather than pressuring others to step aside, with the understanding that a transparent and credible primary process remains the most appropriate avenue for determining leadership.