Atiku ADC Supreme Court fight begins as the presidential candidate challenges a ruling that invalidated the party’s congresses
Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, has taken the party’s leadership dispute to the Supreme Court after a Court of Appeal decision invalidated congresses conducted by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership.
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Atiku said his legal team would pursue a final determination of the matter at the apex court, describing the move as the appropriate constitutional route for resolving the dispute.
The former vice-president, through a statement issued by his media adviser Phrank Shuaibu, urged ADC members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the legal challenge was aimed at protecting the party’s democratic process.
“Let no supporter of the ADC lose sleep. Let no Nigerian who believes in the restoration of our country be discouraged,” Atiku said.
The Atiku ADC Supreme Court fight follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja that upheld an earlier Federal High Court decision restricting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses organised by committees appointed by the caretaker leadership.
In its majority judgment, the appellate court declared the congresses and national convention organised by the caretaker committee null and void, ruling that elected state executive committees, rather than a caretaker national leadership, had the authority to conduct such exercises.
Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the power to organise state congresses rested with properly constituted party structures. Justice Donatus Okorowo supported the decision.
The court also awarded N10 million in costs against the ADC.
However, the panel’s presiding judge, Justice Abba Mohammed, gave a dissenting opinion, arguing that the dispute was an internal party matter and should not have been considered by the court.
The ADC has rejected the majority judgment and confirmed that it has started the process of appealing the decision.
National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi described the ruling as “legally unsustainable” and said the party believed the dissenting judgment better reflected the law.
The dispute creates fresh uncertainty for the opposition party as political preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general election. The ADC has attracted several high-profile figures seeking to challenge the dominance of Nigeria’s major political parties, making internal stability a key issue ahead of the polls.
INEC said it would review the Certified True Copy of the judgment before deciding its next steps regarding the party and its candidates.
An official of the electoral body said its litigation department would study the ruling and provide guidance on the possible implications for the ADC’s political activities.
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Despite the legal setback, Atiku urged supporters to continue their mobilisation efforts, expressing confidence that the judicial process would ultimately resolve the matter.
