Former Kogi West Senator and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has launched a scathing verbal attack on elder statesman and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Alhaji Buba Galadima, dismissing claims that he commented on the alleged ill health of Federal High Court judge, Justice Peter Lifu.
In a sharply worded statement released on Saturday, November 14, 2026, Melaye described Galadima’s remarks as entirely fabricated, suggesting that the veteran politician’s memory was failing due to advancing age.
“I was extremely shocked to hear that Alhaji Buba Galadima mentioned that I made comments on Justice Lifu’s health,” Melaye said. “It is most unfortunate because I never made any comment on Justice Lifu’s health. Old age must be catching up with Buba Galadima. Now I know you can’t cure old age, you can only manage it.”
The exchange follows an appearance by Galadima on Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, during which he criticised Melaye and the ADC leadership over circulating social media rumours claiming that Justice Lifu had fallen critically ill and was seeking medical treatment in Europe.
During the broadcast, Galadima referenced Melaye’s earlier confirmation that the ADC had obtained the Certified True Copy (CTC) of Justice Lifu’s recent judgment against the party. Galadima argued that celebrating a judge’s purported illness was politically shortsighted, warning that the jurist’s absence would stall the signing of court records and delay the opposition party’s appeal.
“How can you be happy that Lifu has fallen ill? You know there was a judgment against ADC, isn’t it? And I’ve just heard you read something that Dino Melaye said they’ve got a true certified copy of the judgment,” Galadima stated during the televised interview. “So no appeal could be had until he’s back. They didn’t know that they are playing on their intelligence, and that’s why Nigerian politicians are lazy. They don’t think.”
The political friction stems from a consequential ruling delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Justice Lifu at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
In a suit instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala, the court sacked the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and nullified all party activities and primary elections conducted under its leadership, a decision widely viewed as invalidating the 2027 presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Amid subsequent delays in securing the Certified True Copy of the judgment, unverified reports circulated online earlier in the week alleging that Justice Lifu had suffered acute respiratory distress, received emergency treatment at the National Hospital in Abuja, and was preparing to be flown abroad.
However, the Court Registrar formally refuted the claims on Thursday, November 12, 2026, clarifying that Justice Lifu was in good health and actively presiding over matters in Abuja.
Prior to Galadima’s television interview, Melaye had announced via his official Facebook page on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, that the ADC had obtained the Certified True Copy of the verdict. In that communication, the former lawmaker confined his commentary strictly to the legal text of the ruling, pointing out that neither Atiku Abubakar nor any other aspirant was explicitly named in the judgment.
Meanwhile, the ADC has pressed ahead with its legal challenge to overturn the Maitama court verdict. Speaking on Channels Television, ADC legal counsel Kalu Kalu disclosed that the party filed a Notice of Appeal alongside an application for a stay of execution on Friday, November 6, 2026, while serving cautionary notices on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pending the determination of the appeal.
