Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected a Federal High Court judgment nullifying his emergence as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general election. Speaking through his official channels on Friday, November 6, 2026, the former vice president insisted that no court maneuver would force him out of the race.
​The legal setback was delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Odo Lifu at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Lifu sacked the caretaker National Working Committee (NWC) led by former Senate President Senator David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
Ruling in favor of a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the ADC Deputy National Chairman who alleged that his right to assume leadership following the exit of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu was violated, the court declared all primary elections organized under the David Mark-led leadership unlawful. The ruling effectively invalidated Atiku’s nomination and the party’s joint ticket.
​Reacting to the judgment in a press statement issued on Friday, November 6, 2026, titled “Bola Cannot Use the Courts to Escape the People’s Verdict; We Are on the Ballot,” Atiku urged his supporters to remain calm while reaffirming his resolve to contest the presidency.
The Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, relayed Atiku’s message, stating directly that the former vice president is not walking away and will be on the ballot regardless of court maneuvers.
Atiku alleged that the judicial intervention was engineered by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition forces following his recent campaign momentum across Sokoto and Kebbi states.
​The national executive of the ADC also moved to contest the verdict. Addressing journalists outside the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, characterised the ruling as legally indefensible.
Ukandu announced that the party’s legal team is filing an immediate appeal alongside an application for a stay of execution to protect candidate nominations and safeguard the party structure.
​The ruling sent shockwaves across the political spectrum. Opposition coalition leader Peter Obi voiced concern over judicial interference in candidate selection ahead of the 2027 vote, arguing that voters rather than courts should determine Nigeria’s leadership.
Meanwhile, David Mark and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi assured party faithful at an opposition gathering that the ADC legal team would resolve the leadership dispute to ensure the party remains a key vehicle for change in 2027.
