Atiku to Appeal Court Ruling Nullifying Mark-Led ADC Leadership, His Candidacy
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has vowed to challenge the 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 ruling as an attempt to weaken the opposition party and frustrate his ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election.
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 also questioned the timing of the judgment, which came a day after a large crowd attended the party’s campaign rally in Sokoto State.
According to him, the turnout showed Nigerians’ growing desire for political change and support for the party’s promise to address the rising cost of living.
“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,” Atiku said.
He added that the party expected similar support in Kebbi State and other parts of the country as its campaign progressed.
Atiku alleged that the judgment was deliberately timed to weaken his political support in the North and disrupt the momentum generated by the Sokoto rally.
“The timing of this judgment is no coincidence. It is part of a strategy to weaken my support in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message is resonating across the country,” he said.
He also insisted that his presidential ambition was not limited to Northern Nigeria, arguing that economic hardship affected citizens across the country.
“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,” he stated.
Atiku further accused the ruling party of underestimating his support by assuming that his political appeal was restricted to the North.
On the legal dispute, the former vice-president 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 dismissed a previous challenge to the Mark-led ADC leadership after upholding objections relating to jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
Atiku questioned why another case was instituted to reopen the dispute despite the earlier ruling.
He described the latest judgment as an attempt to circumvent the previous decision and confirmed that the party would challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
“We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he said.
