The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to press ahead with its political activities despite Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the party led by former Senate President, David Mark, declaring that there is “no shaking” in its determination to pursue its 2027 presidential ambition.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, said the ADC would challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, describing the ruling as an attempt to weaken the opposition and derail his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, 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’, urged party supporters to remain resolute, peaceful and focused, insisting that the campaign to rescue Nigeria from economic hardship would continue.
He also questioned the timing of the judgment, which came barely 24 hours after thousands of supporters attended the party’s campaign rally in Sokoto State.
According to him, the massive turnout demonstrated Nigerians’ growing appetite for political change and confidence in the ADC’s promise to make life affordable.
“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,” he said.
Atiku alleged that the judgment was part of a calculated attempt to undermine his political support in Northern Nigeria and disrupt the momentum generated by the Sokoto rally.
He, however, maintained that his presidential ambition transcended regional boundaries, arguing that the economic challenges confronting Nigerians were not restricted to any particular part of 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. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries,” he said.
The former Vice-President accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of underestimating the strength of his political support by assuming that his appeal was limited to the North.
On the legal controversy, Atiku faulted the reopening of the leadership dispute, citing an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
He said the court had dismissed the challenge to the Mark-led leadership after upholding objections bordering on jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
Atiku questioned why another suit was instituted to revisit the same dispute, describing the latest development as an attempt to circumvent an existing judicial decision.
“We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he declared.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday nullified the Mark-led ADC leadership and invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ADC had earlier rejected the judgment and vowed to pursue available legal options, while calling on its members to remain calm and law-abiding.
Reaffirming his determination to sustain the party’s campaign, Atiku said the ruling would not distract the ADC from its mission of offering Nigerians an alternative to the APC-led government.
“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 urged supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation through house-to-house and door-to-door campaigns, insisting that the party would not be intimidated by the latest judicial setback.
“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,” Atiku declared.
