By Stella Odueme
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for linking its recent campaign rally in Sokoto to a Federal High Court judgment that removed the David Mark-led leadership of the party.
The group described the allegation as misleading, mischievous and dangerous, warning that it could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and democratic institutions.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG faulted the ADC leadership for suggesting that its Sokoto rally influenced the court's decision on the party's leadership dispute.
The group said it was contradictory for the ousted leadership to claim, on one hand, that the judgment had been prepared long before its delivery and, on the other, suggest that it was connected to a political rally held less than 24 hours earlier.
It noted that the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja upheld a suit instituted by the party's former National Deputy Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
TMSG accused the former leadership of resorting to sentiments and attempts to discredit the judiciary instead of examining the circumstances surrounding its emergence as the party's leadership.
The group also recalled that the same ADC leaders had celebrated the judiciary in April when the Supreme Court vacated the status quo ante bellum order issued by the Court of Appeal over the party's leadership dispute.
According to TMSG, the Supreme Court had directed the parties to return to the Federal High Court for an expedited hearing, while the earlier development prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition from the David Mark-led executive.
It described the ADC's reaction to the latest judgment as an attempt to blackmail the judiciary because the outcome did not favour its leadership.
The group urged the affected faction to obtain the Certified True Copy of the judgment and pursue an appeal rather than issue what it described as subtle threats of violence.
TMSG further accused the ADC of abandoning the principles of order, decency and the rule of law, urging Nigerians to be cautious of what it called the party's inconsistent conduct ahead of the 2027 general elections.