African Democratic Congress has finally broken its silence after the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked its leadership and nullified Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy for 2027 presidential election.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a strong-worded statement, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of trying to set Nigeria on fire through the courts.
The statement said the judgment was not just about the ADC, but about democracy itself.
The ADC described the ruling as a grave threat to political stability and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
It stated that what happened in court was part of a planned judicial assault on the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party rejected the judgment in full, saying it would challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal and would also petition the National Judicial Council over the conduct of the case.
According to the ADC, the opposition has repeatedly accused the APC-led government of orchestrating attempts to weaken rival parties ahead of 2027, an allegation the APC has consistently denied.
The ADC statement read, “We have reasons to believe that the judgment has long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery.
“Yesterday, Nigerians came out in their hundreds of thousands to demonstrate their support for the ADC and our promise of making life affordable for them.
“Today, they are being told that the party that they support and the candidates that they have supported at all levels could be erased by the stroke of a reckless judicial pen.”
The ADC’s reaction came hours after Justice Peter Lifu nullified the Senator David Mark-led Caretaker Committee of the ADC. The court declared the committee illegal and voided all decisions taken under it, including the primary that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
The court also held that INEC should not recognise decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025.
The suit was filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, who challenged how Mark and others took control of the party.
Atiku, whose name had already been published by INEC as the ADC candidate, had picked former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate. The judgment came barely 24 hours after Atiku held a campaign rally in Sokoto State.
But the ADC said its ticket remains intact pending appeal.
Its National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, said the party will challenge the decision at the appellate court and will not surrender its mandate through the back door.
ADC urged its members to remain calm and united. It said no court judgment obtained through what it called political manipulation can stop the will of Nigerians who want change in 2027.
