Protest: ADC Supporters Call for Judge’s Recusal in Party-Related Case

Abuja — Members and supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held a peaceful demonstration outside the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, urging Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to withdraw from cases involving the party and other opposition groups.

The protest preceded the hearing of an ADC-related matter before Justice Abdulmalik. Participants carried placards reading messages such as “Judiciary Should Not Destroy Our Democracy,” “Recuse Yourself, You Are Biased,” and “We Have No Confidence in You.”

The demonstrators, identifying themselves as ADC Registered Members and Stakeholders (ADC–RM & S), appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and leaders of the legal community to intervene, calling for the reassignment of cases involving the party to maintain public confidence in the judiciary.

Anthony Olah, National President of ADC–RM & S, emphasized the need to protect trust in the legal process. He urged the CJN to direct Justice Abdulmalik to recuse herself from the upcoming case scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2026, and from other matters involving opposition parties. Olah also called on the Nigerian Bar Association, international observers, and democracy advocates worldwide to support the appeal.

“We will continue our advocacy through peaceful means,” Olah said, requesting that security agencies ensure order during the next court sitting.

Oladimeji Fabian, Deputy National Secretary of the ADC, stressed that reassignment to another judge was necessary to avoid doubts over fairness. He cited instances where judges had previously recused themselves when parties expressed lack of confidence, including cases involving former appellate court leaders. Fabian criticized Justice Abdulmalik for proceeding despite the party’s concerns and called on judicial authorities to reassign the case to a judge with “moderate tendencies.”

The protestors emphasized that their demonstration aimed to highlight the importance of transparency and public trust in judicial proceedings, particularly in politically sensitive cases.