By Lawrence Agbo
Legal practitioner and political analyst Liborous Oshoma has cautioned that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could spend most of the period leading to the 2027 general election battling court cases instead of preparing for the polls.
Speaking on Politics Today on Wednesday, Oshoma said the party’s prolonged leadership dispute and the volume of lawsuits surrounding it could leave the ADC distracted until the final days before the 2027 election.
He said that unless the party moved quickly to resolve its internal problems, the legal crisis could weaken its ability to organise effectively despite recent political declarations and alliance talks.
“They need to make haste. If they do not make haste, then certainly it might become difficult for them, despite the Ibadan Declaration, to even put their house in order,” he stated.
According to him, the growing number of cases at the Supreme Court could keep the party’s leadership occupied in Abuja for months, leaving little time for proper grassroots mobilisation and campaign planning.
“If care is not taken, these people might just keep ADC busy in Abuja at the Supreme Court until a few days before the election, and it might be too late for them to hit the ground running,” he warned.
Oshoma added that such delays could discourage voter participation, as some Nigerians might lose confidence in the party’s readiness and decide to stay away from the polls.
He noted that the involvement of experienced politicians such as Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola and Atiku Abubakar should ordinarily help the party avoid such complications and manage its internal affairs more effectively.
The legal expert also argued that courts have every right to step into party disputes once constitutional violations are alleged, dismissing claims that internal political matters should remain beyond judicial review.
He said the latest judgment from the Federal High Court had further complicated the party’s situation by creating fresh uncertainty around its leadership and its ability to hold valid state congresses.
However, with the Supreme Court expected to deliver a final judgment on April 30, 2026, the ruling is likely to determine the recognised leadership of the ADC and shape its political future ahead of the 2027 elections.
