ADC Campaign Council Dismisses Court Ruling Voiding Atiku’s Candidacy as Academic

The Presidential Campaign Council of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally rejected a recent judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja that sought to nullify the party’s current leadership and the nomination of its presidential candidate. The Council characterized the decision made by Justice Peter Lifu as a theoretical matter that is no longer relevant, according to a declaration released on Thursday. The court order focused on the roles of National Chairman Senator David Mark and National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and it simultaneously invalidated Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's eligibility to run in the 2027 general elections. The party’s legal team has indicated it is preparing to challenge the decision at the appropriate appellate court.

Background

The legal dispute centers on conflicting judgments from courts of coordinate jurisdiction within the Federal High Court, Abuja. The ADC maintained that Justice Musa Liman had previously investigated the origins of the present leadership and determined that the transition of authority from ex-Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu to Senator Mark was consistent with the party's constitutional rules. The Council stated that Justice Liman's prior ruling, which was handed down on 2 July 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, acknowledged that a disputed meeting held on 2 July 2025 was a stakeholders’ gathering that preceded the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on 29 July 2025. It was at this NEC meeting, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that Mark and Aregbesola were formally elected to their respective positions. The ADC contends that the subsequent ruling by Justice Lifu cannot simply displace this existing judicial decision without regard to established legal principles regarding the finality of judgments.

The campaign council also expressed worry about Justice Lifu's previous role in a disputed ADC matter, pointing out that his initial order to deregister the party was later overturned by the Court of Appeal. The Council claimed that the recent legal processes were affected by alleged political meddling and external pressure, urging the preservation of judicial autonomy. They insisted that the timing of the judgment was suspicious, linking it to recent political activities.

Why it matters

The dismissal of the ruling by the ADC and its supporters highlights a deepening crisis in Nigeria’s judicial and political landscape. A support group known as United Friends for Atiku (UFFA) expressed that the verdict constitutes a significant danger to democracy. Aliyu Audu, a UFFA spokesperson, cautioned during an Abuja press conference that contradictory verdicts from courts of the same rank on closely connected issues undermine public trust in legal governance. Audu urged the Court of Appeal to treat any appeal arising from this judgment with the utmost urgency to prevent the institutionalisation of legal chaos. The organization also urged global entities, such as the United Nations, the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), along with democratic allies like the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, to monitor the situation closely. They urged these entities to scrutinise the judicial anomalies and hold the incumbent administration accountable to international democratic standards. The ADC PCC also alleged that the ruling was a reaction to the growing national acceptance of the opposition, contrasting the failed APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna with the successful ADC event in Sokoto.

What happens next

The ADC’s legal team is taking immediate steps to challenge the Federal High Court’s decision through appropriate judicial channels. The focus will now shift to the Court of Appeal, where the party intends to argue that the judgment is inconsistent with prior rulings by Justice Liman. The outcome of this appeal will determine the validity of the current ADC leadership and the eligibility of Atiku Abubakar to contest in the 2027 polls, with both the party and its supporters urging for a swift resolution to avoid further political instability.