During an interview on Africa Independent Television, Alhaji Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), voiced satisfaction that opposition parties did not merge into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. He linked his relief to the recent leadership dispute that placed the ADC under judicial scrutiny.
Judicial ruling and rumors about the judge
On November 5, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court delivered a judgment overturning the resolutions of the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025. The court found that the emergence of Senator David Mark, former Minister Rauf Aregbesola and Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe as national officers did not satisfy the democratic election requirements of Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022. Consequently, the judge restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising those individuals as party officers.
Following the ruling, former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye announced that the ADC had obtained a certified true copy of the judgment. Galadima questioned the celebratory tone of some ADC members who reportedly reacted to unverified reports that Justice Lifu was ill and might be taken to Europe for treatment.
“And I know of some ADC people are jumping up and down that the judge who gave a ruling, Peter Lifu, against them, has fallen ill and is supposed to be taken to hospital in Europe,” he stated.
Galadima warned that any prolonged absence of the judge could complicate the transmission of court records required for appellate proceedings. “Because if the judge goes to London or Europe or anywhere and outside the country, the records of proceedings from his judgment cannot be signed by any judge, so no appeal could be heard until he’s back,” he argued.
The chieftain emphasized that celebrating such rumors ignored the practical legal consequences. “How can you be happy that Peter Lifu has fallen ill and is being taken to Europe? You don’t know that they are denying you justice?” he asked.
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Opposition Merger Fails
He argued that concentrating the entire opposition in one party could leave voters without a viable alternative if that party became entangled in litigation.
When asked whether a united opposition front would better challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, Galadima replied, “I want to tell you that I’m glad that it didn’t work.” Asked why he welcomed the failure of the proposed arrangement despite belonging to an opposition party, he replied: “So if all of us now were in the ADC, what would be our fate?”
He recalled earlier warnings that President Bola Tinubu prefers an electoral contest without a meaningful opponent.
Galadima also touched on historical attempts at opposition cooperation. He noted that discussions in 2013 and 2014 aimed at supporting a common presidential candidate, not dissolving existing party structures into a single entity.
Judiciary Independence Questioned
The interview shifted to concerns about the judiciary’s independence. Galadima suggested, without providing evidence, that judges might be influenced to favour the ruling party in cases involving ADC members.
When the presenter asked whether he was alleging that President Tinubu had directed the judiciary to nullify the leadership of an opposition party, Galadima responded: “What we hear, what we hear, if I were to put it on the table, the country will burn.”
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