Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has vowed to challenge Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark at the Court of Appeal.
Atiku described the judgment as an attempt to weaken the opposition party and frustrate his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, titled, ‘The Panic Is Real — Atiku’.
The former Vice-President questioned the timing of the judgment, which came barely a day after a large crowd attended the ADC campaign rally in Sokoto State.
He said the turnout demonstrated Nigerians’ desire for political change and support for the party’s promise to address the rising cost of living.
Atiku alleged that the judgment was part of a strategy to weaken his political support in Northern Nigeria and disrupt the momentum generated by the Sokoto rally.
He, however, maintained that his presidential ambition had national appeal, insisting that economic hardship affected Nigerians irrespective of their geographical location.
“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 said.
On the legal dispute, Atiku cited an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 2, 2026, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
He said the court had previously dismissed a challenge to the Mark-led leadership, upholding objections relating to jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
Questioning why another suit was instituted over the same dispute, Atiku described the latest judgment as an attempt to circumvent the earlier court decision.
He vowed to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, insisting that the legal action would not derail the party’s campaign activities.
PUNCH Online reports that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday nullified the leadership of the Mark-led ADC and invalidated decisions taken by the party under the leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as its presidential candidate.
The judgment followed a suit filed by a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the party’s constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ADC had earlier rejected the judgment, saying it would challenge the decision through available judicial processes. The party also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding.
Meanwhile, Atiku urged his supporters not to allow the judgment to weaken the campaign, insisting that the party’s activities would continue across the country.
He called on members to intensify house-to-house and door-to-door campaigns while remaining peaceful and focused.
“There is no shaking,” he added.
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