Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have rejected Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment that nullified the party’s leadership structure and its 2027 primary elections. Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of weaponizing judicial disputes to sabotage his presidential ambition and suppress the opposition’s growing political momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
​On Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 1130 pm. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja delivered a ruling that sacked the David Mark-led Caretaker Committee of the ADC. ​The court declared the appointment of the caretaker committee, including former National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, illegal, nullifying all administrative processes and primary elections conducted under their supervision.
The judgment directly voided the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s 2027 presidential candidate and recognized former Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, as the legitimate leader of the party. ​The suit, filed by Gombe following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, argued that he was constitutionally mandated to assume the party’s top leadership role. ​
Reacting to the verdict through a statement issued Thursday afternoon in Abuja by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku stated that the judgment was timed to undermine the opposition coalition’s momentum following widespread turnout at recent campaign stops. ​”The timing of this judgment is no coincidence,” Shaibu stated.
“Coming barely a day after thousands of supporters turned out for the ADC presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State, this ruling is a calculated attempt by the ruling APC to use judicial mechanics to weaken our momentum and frustrate a presidential ambition that resonates deeply with Nigerians suffering under economic hardship.” ​
Shaibu added that the Atiku campaign would not be derailed, confirming that campaign activities in Kebbi State and across the country would proceed as planned under the party’s “Affordable Life” banner. ​In a separate official statement released from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi confirmed that the party has instructed its legal team to file an immediate appeal against Justice Lifu’s ruling at the Court of Appeal. ​
Abdullahi urged party members and supporters across Nigeria to remain calm and focused, asserting that the party remains confident the appellate court will reverse the judgment. ​”We caution the ruling party against playing politics with the judicial system to undermine democracy,” Abdullahi said. “Our legal team is already filing an appeal.
There is no shaking; our journey to offer Nigerians relief from the current economic hardship remains on track”. ​The ruling sets the stage for a high-stakes legal battle as Nigeria’s opposition coalition seeks to clear its legal hurdles ahead of the scheduled 2027 general elections.
