Atiku: Court ruling nullifying ADC candidacy a sign of panic by Tinubu, APC

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has described the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and his presidential candidacy as a desperate attempt by President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, who accused the APC of being afraid of political competition and the prospect of losing power, said the ruling was designed to disrupt the growing momentum of his campaign and contain the ADC’s expanding national influence.

The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC (North-East).

The court nullified the leadership of the caretaker committee headed by former Senate President David Mark, declaring its activities, including the conduct of the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its candidate, illegal.

It also invalidated the positions of the party’s national officers, including National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, as well as the candidacies of all ADC flag bearers submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 elections.

Gombe had challenged the emergence of Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as the ADC presidential candidate, had selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

Reacting through a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the former Vice-President questioned the timing of the judgment, alleging that it was intended to undermine his political standing, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

He noted that the ruling came barely 24 hours after thousands of supporters welcomed him to Sokoto State for the launch of the ADC campaign, describing the reception as evidence of growing public discontent with the Tinubu administration.

Atiku said the enthusiasm demonstrated by the supporters reflected Nigerians’ desire for an alternative government capable of addressing the country’s economic difficulties and rising cost of living.

“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.

Rejecting suggestions that his presidential ambition was primarily a Northern project, Atiku maintained that his political message transcended regional considerations.

“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 further alleged that the judgment was part of a deliberate strategy to weaken his support base in the North and prevent the ADC from consolidating its growing political influence across the country.

“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.

On the legal issues surrounding the leadership dispute, Atiku questioned why the matter had resurfaced despite an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.

According to him, the earlier court had dismissed a challenge to the Mark-led leadership after upholding objections relating to jurisdiction, locus standi and failure to exhaust the party’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms. He added that the substantive issues were also resolved in favour of the defendants.

Questioning the institution of the fresh suit, Atiku said the development amounted to an attempt to circumvent an existing judicial decision.

“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 former Vice-President urged ADC members and supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that the court’s decision would not derail the party’s mobilisation or its campaign for the 2027 elections.

“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,” he said.

With the campaign train already moving to Kebbi State, Atiku urged supporters to intensify house-to-house and door-to-door mobilisation, declaring that the judgment would not weaken their resolve.

“There is no shaking,” he declared.