ADC hails court judgment on INEC regulations

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja on the deadline for party primaries, among others.

In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it viewed the ruling as vindication of its objections to key aspects of the electoral body’s guidelines at the time they were issued.

The party also recalled its specific objections to the strict timelines on membership registration as well as the conduct of party primaries.

“The decision of the court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” it said.

ADC said that the ruling, which removed the impediment placed by the guidelines on politicians who wished to seek alternative platforms to contest elections, was a positive development that would promote freedom of association.

“We believed at the time that that particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC.

“Now that the court has ruled against it, we are sure that, in the coming days, we will witness a mass exodus from the ruling party,” the party added.