Atiku vows to appeal as court nullifies Mark-led ADC executive

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has vowed to challenge a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated all decisions taken by the Mark-led caretaker committee, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The legal challenge was instituted by a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who contested the legality of the committee’s ascension to leadership.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led executive violated the ADC constitution, provisions of the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The court subsequently restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or acting upon decisions reached during the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 27, 2025.

Reacting through a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the ruling as a judicial maneuver intended to derail his campaign.

“The Panic Is Real. The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward.”

Atiku raised concerns about the timing of the verdict, alleging that it was calculated to disrupt the political momentum gathered from the campaign rally of the party in Sokoto State.

The former Vice President stated that economic hardship affects citizens regardless of regional boundaries, asserting that his presidential bid maintains national appeal despite attempts to restrict
his support base to Northern Nigeria.

“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries,” he added.

He made reference to an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which had dismissed a similar suit challenging the Mark-led executive.

According to Atiku, Justice Liman’s court had previously resolved the matter in favor of the defendants by upholding objections regarding jurisdiction, standing, and the failure to exhaust internal party remedies.

“Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute? This is a calculated attempt to circumvent a subsisting judgment. We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal”.

The leadership of the ADC has also rejected Justice Lifu’s judgment, confirming plans to seek legal redress while urging party members across the nation to remain calm and law-abiding.

Atiku called on his supporters to sustain campaign activities across the country, encouraging them to engage citizens through house-to-house mobilization under the party’s ‘Affordable Life’ campaign.

“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis,” he stated.