Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has begun a legal challenge following the Court of Appeal’s decision invalidating congresses conducted by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The ADC presidential candidate has directed his legal team to approach the Supreme Court for a final determination of the party’s leadership dispute.

In a statement issued by his media adviser, Phrank Shuaibu, Atiku described the appeal as the appropriate constitutional step and expressed confidence that the judiciary would resolve the matter.

“Let no supporter of the ADC lose sleep. Let no Nigerian who believes in the restoration of our country be discouraged,” he said.

He urged party members across the country to remain calm, united and focused while continuing mobilisation efforts.

The ADC also confirmed that it had commenced the process of challenging the judgement, describing the appellate court’s decision as “legally unsustainable.”

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that the dissenting opinion delivered by the panel’s presiding justice better reflected the established position of the law.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had upheld a Federal High Court judgement restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership.

In a majority decision, the appellate court declared the state congresses and national convention organised by the caretaker committee null and void and awarded N10 million in costs against the ADC.

Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Okon Abang held that the power to conduct state congresses rests with elected state executive committees and not a caretaker national leadership.

Justice Donatus Okorowo concurred with the decision.

However, the panel’s presiding judge, Justice Abba Mohammed, dissented, maintaining that the matter concerned the internal affairs of the party and was therefore not justiciable.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would obtain and review the Certified True Copy of the judgement before deciding its next course of action.

According to an official of the commission, INEC’s litigation department will study the ruling and advise the commission on its implications for the ADC and its candidates.