ADC Rejects Court Ruling Nullifying Atiku’s Candidacy, Vows Appeal

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the management of its National Working Committee (NWC) led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar because the get together’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

In a press release issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the get together described the ruling as a risk to the democratic rights of its members and candidates nationwide. The ADC stated it might problem the judgment by means of all obtainable authorized channels.

The get together additionally questioned the timing of the choice, arguing that it got here at a interval of heightened political exercise forward of the 2027 common elections. According to the ADC, the judgment might jeopardise the aspirations of hundreds of its candidates contesting numerous elective positions throughout the nation.

Abdullahi said that the case goes past the pursuits of Atiku Abubakar and David Mark, insisting that it issues the rights of Nigerians to freely select their leaders and take part within the democratic course of.

The ADC additional argued that the ruling conflicts with an earlier Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman on 2 July 2026, which reportedly affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led NWC and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the management.

The get together maintained that below established authorized rules, a court docket of coordinate jurisdiction can not overturn or nullify the subsisting judgment of one other court docket of equal standing. It subsequently rejected any consequential orders arising from what it described as a flawed choice.

While awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to totally study its particulars and implications, the ADC accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to weaken the opposition by means of the courts. It urged the judiciary to stay impartial and defend democratic values.

The get together additionally referred to as on its supporters nationwide to stay peaceable and law-abiding because it pursues authorized cures.

The controversy follows a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the management of the Mark-led ADC and invalidated selections taken below that management, together with the method that produced Atiku Abubakar because the get together’s presidential candidate.

The swimsuit was filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the method by means of which Mark and members of the caretaker committee assumed management of the get together.

Justice Lifu dominated that the emergence of the caretaker management violated the ADC structure, provisions of the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution. The court docket additionally directed INEC to not recognise selections taken on the get together’s 99th National Executive Committee assembly held on 27 July 2025.

According to counsel to the plaintiff, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), the judgment invalidates all actions taken by the Mark-led management since July 2025. Another lawyer for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), stated the ruling successfully leaves the get together with out candidates for the 2027 presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state meeting elections.

The ADC has, nevertheless, insisted that it’ll vigorously contest the judgment and defend what it describes because the democratic rights of its members and supporters.

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