Atiku Abubakar Plans to Appeal Court Ruling Against ADC Leadership

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has announced his intention to appeal a recent court ruling that invalidated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is led by David Mark. The ruling was issued by the Federal High Court on Thursday.

Atiku criticized the judgment, claiming it aims to weaken the opposition party and hinder his presidential campaign for the 2027 elections. He pointed out that this ruling came shortly after a successful ADC rally in Sokoto State, where many people showed their support for the party’s message of change.

In a statement released by Phrank Shaibu, the Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku expressed concerns about the timing of the ruling. He believes it was strategically planned to disrupt the momentum of his campaign and diminish his support in Northern Nigeria.

Atiku emphasized that his campaign is not limited to the North, arguing that economic issues affect all Nigerians regardless of where they live. He believes that the ruling party has misjudged his support, which he claims is growing nationwide.

He also referenced a previous judgment that upheld the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership, questioning why another lawsuit was filed against it. Atiku described the latest ruling as an attempt to bypass the earlier decision.

Justice Peter Lifu, who issued the ruling, stated that the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC’s constitution and other legal requirements. As a result, the court ordered that decisions made under this leadership, including Atiku’s candidacy, should not be recognized.

Despite the court’s decision, the ADC plans to appeal and has urged its members to remain calm. Atiku reassured his supporters that the campaign would continue and encouraged them to spread the party’s message peacefully.