Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has rejected a Federal High Court judgment invalidating his emergence as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, describing the decision as an attempt to frustrate what he called a growing national movement for political change.
Atiku said he would challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, insisting that neither the judgment nor efforts to undermine his campaign would stop his pursuit of the presidency.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, declared the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC illegal and invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, 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 former national chairman Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership. He asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s national chairman and national secretary, respectively.
The court upheld the plaintiff’s claims, with the consequences extending beyond Atiku’s presidential nomination to the party’s national leadership and other candidates nominated under the disputed structure. The decision is expected to face further legal scrutiny following the ADC’s vow to appeal. <Cite refs={[“turn884326search0″,”turn884326search3”]}/>
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned the timing of the ruling, noting that it came barely a day after thousands of supporters reportedly attended his campaign rally in Sokoto State.
He argued that the turnout demonstrated growing public demand for change and rejected suggestions that his political appeal was limited to Northern Nigeria.
Atiku said economic hardship, rising living costs and the struggle to make ends meet affected Nigerians across regional and ethnic boundaries, insisting that his campaign was intended to offer an alternative to the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He maintained that his roots in Northern Nigeria did not make his candidacy exclusive to the region, arguing that his message of economic relief and affordable living was intended for citizens throughout the federation.
The former vice-president further alleged that the timing of the judgment was designed to weaken his support base in the North and disrupt the momentum generated by the ADC’s campaign. He did not present independently established evidence proving that the ruling was politically orchestrated.
Atiku also questioned the legal basis of the judgment, citing an earlier decision by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, which he said had affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led party leadership.
According to him, the earlier judgment, delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, dismissed a challenge to the leadership on grounds that included jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
He argued that the latest proceedings raised questions about whether a court of coordinate jurisdiction could revisit issues addressed in an earlier judgment. The legal implications of the competing decisions will be subject to the appellate process.
The ADC has separately rejected Justice Lifu’s ruling, describing it as legally indefensible and alleging that the decision formed part of an attempt by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it would pursue available judicial remedies. It also said it was awaiting the certified true copy of the judgment to establish the precise terms and scope of the court’s orders. The APC’s alleged involvement, however, remains an accusation by the opposition and has not been established by the ruling itself. <Cite refs={[“turn884326search11″,”turn884326search7”]}/>
The legal dispute creates fresh uncertainty for the ADC, which has positioned itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the next presidential election. If the judgment is upheld on appeal, the consequences could affect the party’s ability to field candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Atiku urged his supporters to remain calm, peaceful and focused, insisting that campaign activities would continue despite the court decision. He said the campaign had moved from Sokoto to Kebbi and would proceed to other parts of the country.
He reiterated his commitment to what the campaign calls its “Affordable Life” agenda, promising to continue presenting his proposals for addressing the cost-of-living crisis and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
The former vice-president’s next major challenge will be the legal battle to overturn the ruling and preserve his party’s presidential ticket. Until the appellate courts determine the dispute, the judgment represents a significant setback for his 2027 ambition, while the final legal status of the ADC’s leadership and nominations remains subject to further proceedings.
