The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately obstructing its political activities following the closure of Arewa House in Kaduna, which was scheduled to host a consultation between the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Northern stakeholders on Thursday.
The opposition party also expressed concern over the delay in receiving an authenticated copy of a judgment delivered by Justice Peter O. Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 5, 2026, noting that the document was only made available to it on November 11, the last day of the constitutionally allowed seven-day period.
The case, marked Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, involved Hon. Nafi’u Bala Gombe as the plaintiff, while the ADC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Chief Ralph Nwosu were listed as defendants.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 11, and signed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the party cited Section 294(1) of the Constitution, which requires courts to provide parties with authenticated copies of their judgments within seven days of delivery.
The ADC said receiving the judgment on the final day left it with little time to properly examine the ruling and determine its next legal steps. It, however, assured its supporters that it would explore all available legal options.
On the closure of Arewa House, the party said Atiku’s campaign team had selected the historic Kaduna facility for his planned meeting with Northern stakeholders before the APC-led government ordered its closure.
Reacting to the development, Atiku was quoted as saying that his team had proposed Arewa House for Thursday’s consultation, only for the APC government to seal the building on the day the arrangements were being made.
The ADC described the action as an affront to the cultural heritage and dignity of the people of Northern Nigeria. It also recalled what it described as an earlier attempt to disrupt its campaign flag-off in Sokoto, arguing that both incidents pointed to a pattern of deliberate efforts to frustrate its political engagements.
The party held Tinubu and the APC responsible for the alleged obstruction, accusing the ruling party of using government authority to restrict opposition activities and weaken democratic competition.
Despite the developments, the ADC insisted that it would not be intimidated or discouraged from pursuing its political objectives. It said it would continue its consultations, defend its legal rights and take its message to Nigerians across the country.
