ADC: Atiku speaks on Court of Appeal verdict

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the judgment of the Court of Appeal which overturned the Federal High Court order seeking to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, describing the ruling as a reaffirmation of the supremacy of the rule of law.

In a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, Atiku praised the appellate court for what he described as a landmark judgment that upheld constitutional democracy and protected Nigeria’s democratic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former presidential candidate congratulated the justices of the Court of Appeal for their courage, commitment to justice and fidelity to the Constitution, saying the decision showed that the judiciary remains a critical institution in defending democracy.

Atiku says ADC’s participation in 2027 election secured

Atiku said the Court of Appeal judgment, alongside an earlier ruling by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, affirming the election of the Senator David Mark-led executive of the ADC, had cleared the way for the opposition party to participate in the 2027 general elections.

He stated that with the two judgments, there was no longer any pending legal challenge capable of preventing the party from preparing for future electoral contests.

According to him, the appellate court’s decision validated the legal status of ADC and reaffirmed the rights of political parties to operate within Nigeria’s democratic framework.

Court faulted Federal High Court judgment

Atiku noted that the Court of Appeal rightly held that the judgment delivered on June 15 by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court was a nullity because it was issued despite a subsisting order directing a stay of proceedings.

He said the appellate court also found that the respondents lacked the legal standing to institute the case, describing their claims as speculative and legally unsustainable.

The former vice president added that the court held that the trial court failed to properly consider evidence presented before it, particularly the affidavit evidence from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC evidence ignored, Atiku says

Atiku stated that INEC’s evidence before the court confirmed that ADC and the other affected political parties had complied with constitutional and statutory requirements for continued registration.

He said the Court of Appeal found that the lower court had no legal basis to introduce additional conditions after accepting the electoral commission’s evidence.

The ruling, according to Atiku, prevented what he described as an attempt to restrict Nigeria’s democratic space through legal processes.

Judgment victory for democracy, not just ADC – Atiku

Atiku described the judgment as more than a legal victory for ADC, saying it represented a victory for Nigerians who believe political competition should be determined through elections rather than through court actions.

He argued that democracy thrives when citizens are allowed to choose their leaders freely and warned against efforts to remove political opponents through institutions of the state.

“The strength of a democracy lies not in the exclusion of political opponents but in allowing the people to freely determine their leaders through the ballot,” he said.

Atiku warns against using courts for political battles

The former vice president urged political actors to avoid turning the judiciary into a platform for eliminating competitors, stressing that electoral contests should be decided by voters.

He said attempts to use courts and other state institutions for political engineering could weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.

Atiku maintained that the 2027 general election should be determined by the choices of Nigerians at the ballot box and not by what he described as legal manoeuvres designed to achieve political objectives.

Former VP commends Court of Appeal

Atiku commended the justices of the Court of Appeal for what he described as a courageous, impartial and constitutionally grounded judgment.

He said the ruling had strengthened public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system and reaffirmed that the rule of law remains superior to political interests.

He expressed confidence that truth, justice and the democratic will of Nigerians would prevail as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.