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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has insisted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains its presidential candidate for the January 16, 2027 election, despite the Federal High Court judgment nullifying his nomination and sacking the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by former Senate President David Mark.
The party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), which accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to eliminate political opponents through judicial manoeuvres, declared that the law was on Atiku’s side and vowed to defend his candidature at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the council demanded the immediate release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, alleging that the delay was frustrating its efforts to challenge the decision.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had last week nullified Atiku’s nomination as the ADC presidential candidate and removed the Mark-led NWC.
The campaign council maintained that the judgment would not deter the party from pursuing its presidential ambition, insisting that Nigerians’ right to choose their leaders must not be undermined.
“Atiku remains our candidate. The law is on his side, not sentiment. We will defend that position before the Court of Appeal and keep the record before Nigerians. Their right to choose their president must never become a bargaining chip in anyone’s struggle for power,” it declared.
The council said its lawyers had already taken the legal questions arising from the judgment before the appellate court but expressed concern over the non-release of the official copy.
“We call for the immediate release of the full judgment in this matter. The ADC must be given the official copy and the reasons for the decision so that we can proceed with the appropriate legal action. Withholding the judgment obstructs our right to challenge it and denies the appellate court the benefit of a complete record,” it said.
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It also questioned the circumstances surrounding the reassignment of the case, demanding an explanation for why Justice Nwite, who had commenced hearing the matter, did not conclude it.
“Our lawyers have taken the legal questions before the esteemed justices of the Court of Appeal. We respect their authority to decide them. We also come before the court of public opinion with the documents that show how this case reached Justice Lifu. Nigerians deserve to know why Justice Nwite was prevented from concluding a case he had already begun hearing,” the council stated.
The ADC cited an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman, which it said dismissed a challenge to the party’s leadership for lack of merit and locus standi, held that the internal dispute was not justiciable and affirmed the legality of the leadership handover.
According to the council, the judgment also held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was entitled to recognise the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary.
It challenged the APC to confront Atiku at the ballot box rather than, as it alleged, resorting to litigation to weaken the opposition.
“The ruling APC should be bold enough to face Atiku Abubakar on the political battleground and answer for the hardship Nigerians endure.
“The hallowed chambers of our courts must not be turned into arenas for political combat. Nigerians must see those who would rather fight their opponent through court manoeuvres than meet him at the ballot box,” the statement added.
The council maintained that it respected the authority of the judiciary to determine the dispute but would exhaust available legal remedies to defend Atiku’s nomination and the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.
