Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has praised the Federal High Court's ruling that favoured the faction of former Senate President David Mark in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership crisis. The court dismissed a challenge from Leke Abejide, a federal lawmaker from Kogi state, who questioned the authenticity of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary of the party. The court ruled that Abejide lacked sufficient evidence to support his claim.
Shehu Sani’s Reaction to the Ruling
Reacting on social media, Sani, who is seeking re-election to the Senate on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in 2027, asserted that the ruling demonstrates that the judiciary remains 'the last hope of the common man' and that 'there is no plot to impose a one-party state.' His comments come amid opposition claims that the presidency is using the judiciary to silence dissent and turn Nigeria into a one-party state, ensuring President Bola Tinubu remains the dominant candidate in the 2027 election.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerians
Nigerians have responded diversely to Sani's claims. User Emmytoby alleged that the presidency's target is specifically Peter Obi: 'Don't get it twisted, Sir; the war is just against one man, Peter Obi. There is nobody to fight in ADC. Atiku is not a force. They knew that he is never a problem to Jagaban. All they wish to do is to cripple Obi, which will never happen.' Another user, TomTee, pointed to the case of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying: 'It will be nice if you can lead a campaign for the judiciary to do the needful in the case of your mentor, Mallam El-Rufai; then we will know that the judiciary is the hope of the common man because we do not know the rationale for keeping him for a bailable offence.'
Joel backed Sani’s claim: 'Bros, court don rule for Mark side today; tomorrow if e favour another person, dem go call am one party state again. Na so we dey? Judiciary na last hope only when e sweet person.' Francis Lawson called for judicial independence: 'When something is obvious, it is seen by everyone, even though some will pretend not to see. The judiciary can't allow itself to be used wrongly by politicians. We must continue to speak out!'
Background on ADC Crisis
The ADC leadership crisis has been a protracted dispute between factions led by David Mark and Leke Abejide. The court's decision on July 2, 2026, effectively validates Mark’s leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections. Sani’s defense of the judiciary aligns with his broader political stance as he campaigns for a return to the Senate under the APC banner.
Shehu Sani on Jonathan’s Mistakes
In related remarks, Sani previously faulted former President Goodluck Jonathan for being the architect of his own defeat in the 2015 presidential election. Speaking in an interview, Sani listed three things Jonathan did that President Bola Tinubu or any other president cannot do, though he did not specify them in the available report.
