Get Guardian on GoogleThe Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned Thursday’s Federal High Court ruling by Justice Peter Lifu purporting to remove Senator David Mark’s leadership of the party.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the judgment has put the All Progressives Congress (APC) into panic mode.
Atiku described Lifu’s ruling that sacked the Mark-led ADC leadership and nullified his 2027 presidential nomination along with all other candidates as a calculated attempt to weaken the opposition party and frustrate his candidacy.
The former Vice President described the judgment as politically timed after a massive Sokoto rally, alleging it aims to fracture his Northern base and national “Affordable Life” campaign message targeting economic hardship across regions, while highlighting a conflicting earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman that upheld the Mark leadership.
“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. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,” Atiku said.
“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. Nigerians across the country are suffering under this government, and they deserve a leader with a credible plan to make life affordable again.
“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. But the ruling party’s greatest miscalculation is to assume that my support ends in the North. What we saw in Sokoto, what we will see in Kebbi and across the country, is the strength of a national movement.”
Atiku said the judgment also raises serious legal concerns. “Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had already dismissed the challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025. The court upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and the failure to exhaust internal party remedies, and resolved the substantive issues in their favour,” he said.
“Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute? This is a calculated attempt to circumvent a subsisting judgment. We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal.”
Atiku urged ADC supporters to stay calm and law-abiding, continue door-to-door mobilization starting in Kebbi State and prepare for an appeal at the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling as an improper reopening of settled issues.
He also urged them not to allow the judgment weaken the momentum generated in Sokoto State, especially as the campaign train is already in Kebbi and will continue across the country.
“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis,” Atiku said.
“We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking.”
