The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says there is no court injunction restraining David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from acting as the party’s national chairman and secretary, respectively.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC spokesperson, said in a ruling on September 4, Emeka Nwite, judge of the federal high court, refused the ex parte application filed by Nafiu Bala, a chieftain of the party.
Abdullahi said the judge instead ordered the defendants—Mark and Aregbesola—to be notified and to appear in court to explain why the application should not be granted.
He added that the case was adjourned to September 15.
The ADC spokesperson said purveyors of fake news claimed that the court restrained Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party chair and secretary.
“Resorting to fake news has become the last resort of desperate political jobbers who had been disappointed by INEC’s decision to stand on the side of the Nigerian people by acknowledging the leadership change in the party,” the statement reads.
“The order was duly signed and issued by Hon Justice Emeka Nwite, Presiding Judge, and certified by Kasope Kafayat Bola, Registrar of the Federal High Court.
“Having failed to stop INEC from acknowledging the leadership change in ADC, the political jobbers are now resorting to fake news.
“This goes to show that these agents of destabilisation will stop at nothing, including misrepresenting court rulings, in their desperate efforts to sow confusion and further undermine opposition parties.”
Abdullahi asked party members and Nigerians to “be vigilant and be wary of fake news and inaccurate reports characteristic of the ruling party and their agents”.
On Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised the ADC national working committee (NWC) led by Mark.