2027: ADC Rejects Court Verdict, Insists Atiku Remains Candidate

The African Democratic Congress has rejected the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the management of its National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidating the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

The social gathering stated it will problem the judgment by way of each out there judicial course of, arguing that the ruling raised issues concerning the political rights of its members and candidates forward of the final elections.

The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said this in a press release issued on Thursday.

The social gathering additionally questioned the timing of the judgment, suggesting that it got here amid rising political actions forward of the 2027 elections.

In the assertion titled, ‘Lifu Judgment: APC Wants to Set Nigeria on Fire’, the ADC stated the ruling might have an effect on 1000’s of its candidates in search of elective positions throughout the nation.

It stated, “Yesterday, Nigerians came out in their hundreds of thousands to demonstrate their support for the ADC and our promise of making life affordable for them.

“Today, they are being told that the party that they support and the candidates that they have supported at all levels could be erased by the stroke of a reckless judicial pen.”

The social gathering maintained that the matter went past Atiku and Mark, arguing that the judgment had implications on the participation of its members within the electoral course of.

“Do these people understand what they are playing with? This is not about Atiku Abubakar or David Mark. It is about the democratic rights of Nigerians to freely choose their own leaders. It is about the rights of thousands of candidates to participate in a democratic process,” it added.

The ADC additionally faulted the judgment, citing an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 2, 2026, in go well with quantity FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.

According to the social gathering, the sooner judgment affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise its management.

It argued {that a} court docket of coordinate jurisdiction couldn’t evaluate or overturn the choice of one other court docket of equal jurisdiction.

The assertion learn, “Our objection is particularly anchored on the subsisting judgment of Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, delivered on 2 July 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led NWC and directed INEC to recognise the leadership.

“It is a settled principle of Nigerian jurisprudence that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction.”

Reiterating its rejection of the ruling, the social gathering stated it will not settle for any consequential orders arising from what it described as a flawed dedication.

“The ADC, therefore, rejects any consequential orders founded on a determination that appears to disregard these fundamental legal principles,” Abdullahi stated.

The social gathering, nevertheless, stated it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the newest judgment to determine its exact phrases and the orders made by the court docket.

“We have seen this script before. When they are scared that the opposition is gathering steam, they use their judges in the courts to influence legally indefensible judgments,” the assertion added.

It additional declared, “The ADC, therefore, rejects any consequential orders founded on a determination that appears to disregard these fundamental legal principles. However, we await the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the said judgment to ascertain its precise terms, scope and operative orders.”

The social gathering additionally urged the judiciary to uphold democratic ideas and referred to as on the ruling All Progressives Congress to permit political competitors forward of the subsequent common elections.

It stated, “The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party. Nobody should be so desperate to retain power that they are prepared to put the entire country at risk.

“Nigeria belongs to Nigerians, not to the APC. The presidency is not an inheritance. If the President thinks he has performed well in office, why is he afraid of competition?”

The ADC additionally referred to as on the judiciary to not permit itself for use in undermining democratic processes, insisting that the dispute had implications past the social gathering.

“This is not just about the ADC or Atiku Abubakar; it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” it stated.

The social gathering appealed to its members nationwide to stay calm and law-abiding whereas it pursued all authorized means to handle the scenario.