The Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment nullifying his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election, describing it as an attempt to derail a national movement.
The former Vice President also condemned the judgment, which sacked the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party and invalidated all actions taken by the executives, including the process that produced him as the ADC’s presidential candidate.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the timing of the judgment was telling, coming barely a day after thousands of supporters gathered in Sokoto to welcome him and attend the launch of the party’s presidential campaign.
“The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,” he said.
Atiku dismissed suggestions that his political support was limited to Northern Nigeria, insisting that his candidacy appealed to Nigerians across the country.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries. Nigerians across the country are suffering under this government, and they deserve a leader with a credible plan to make life affordable again,” he said.
He described the judgment as part of a strategy to weaken his political support and frustrate the ADC’s growing campaign.
“The timing of this judgment is no coincidence. It is part of a strategy to weaken my support in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message is resonating across the country.
“But the ruling party’s greatest miscalculation is to assume that my support ends in the North. What we saw in Sokoto, what we will see in Kebbi and across the country, is the strength of a national movement,” he added.
Atiku also questioned the legal basis of the judgment, citing an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, which he said had upheld the legitimacy of the David Mark-led leadership.
He said the earlier judgment, delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, dismissed the challenge to the party’s leadership on grounds including jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
“Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute? This is a calculated attempt to circumvent a subsisting judgment. We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he said.
The judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was entitled to assume its leadership. He asked the court to nullify decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The court upheld his claims, declaring the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and invalidating its actions, including Atiku’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate. The ruling is expected to be challenged at the appellate court.
The ADC has also rejected the judgment, describing it as an attempt by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to cripple the opposition and deny Nigerians the opportunity to choose their leaders in the 2027 elections.
In a separate statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party questioned the timing of the judgment, linking it to the turnout at Atiku’s November 4 campaign rally in Sokoto.
The party maintained that the ruling was legally indefensible, citing the earlier judgment by Justice Liman, and said it would challenge the decision through all available judicial processes.
Atiku urged ADC supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, insisting that the judgment would not derail the momentum generated in Sokoto. He said the campaign train was already in Kebbi and would continue its activities across the country.
“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis.
“We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking,” he said.
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