Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has announced plans to challenge the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, headed by former Senate President David Mark, at the Court of Appeal.
Atiku described Thursday’s ruling as an attempt to undermine the opposition party and derail his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He maintained that the decision raised serious questions about the legal process, particularly because another judgment of the same court had previously upheld the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.
The former Vice-President expressed his position in a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council. The statement was titled ‘The Panic Is Real — Atiku’.
Atiku also questioned the timing of the court’s decision, noting that it came barely 24 hours after the ADC attracted a massive turnout at its campaign rally in Sokoto State. According to him, the crowd demonstrated growing public support for the party and Nigerians’ desire for an alternative political direction, particularly amid increasing economic hardship.
“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.
He further argued that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had misjudged the geographical spread of his political influence by assuming that his support base was largely restricted to northern Nigeria.
“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,” he said.
Addressing the legal controversy surrounding the ADC leadership, Atiku referred to an earlier ruling delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 2, 2026, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
He explained that the court had previously dismissed a challenge against the Mark-led leadership after upholding objections bordering on jurisdiction, legal standing and the failure of the plaintiffs to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
“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.
The former Vice-President questioned the decision to institute another case over an issue he believed had already been judicially determined, describing the development as an attempt to undermine an existing court ruling.
“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,” he added.
PUNCH Online reports that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday nullified the leadership of the ADC under Mark and invalidated decisions taken by the party during his leadership. The ruling also affected the process through which Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
The legal action originated from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC in the North-East, who challenged the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Mark and other members of the party’s caretaker committee.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party was inconsistent with the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The judge also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from recognising or acting on resolutions and decisions reached at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
Reacting to the development, the ADC had rejected the court’s decision and indicated its intention to pursue an appeal through the appropriate judicial channels. The party also appealed to its members to remain calm, maintain order and abide by the law as the legal battle continues.
Despite the setback, Atiku insisted that the party’s political activities would proceed without interruption. He urged supporters not to allow the judgment to derail their efforts, stressing that the campaign for political change and economic recovery remained on course.
“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,” he said.
He also called on party members and supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation by engaging Nigerians in their communities while avoiding any actions capable of disrupting public peace.
“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,” he added.
