Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Former Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has vowed to remain in the race for the 2027 presidential election despite a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that nullified his emergence as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Atiku, who emerged as the ADC’s presidential flag bearer in May 2026, described the court decision as an attempt to weaken his political movement and frustrate his presidential ambition. He insisted that the campaign would continue and announced plans to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, invalidated the leadership of the ADC National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark and overturned decisions taken under its authority, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The judgment has created fresh uncertainty for the opposition party as political activities gather momentum ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
Federal High Court Nullifies ADC Leadership and Atiku’s Presidential Ticket
The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled against the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress following a legal challenge instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party.
Gombe challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership assumed control of the ADC after the resignation of its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
He argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s departure and questioned the legality of the arrangements that produced the Mark-led executive.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated provisions of the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court consequently nullified the leadership structure and invalidated decisions taken under its authority.
Among the affected decisions was the party’s presidential primary, which produced Atiku Abubakar as its candidate for the 2027 election.
The ruling also affected the emergence of former Osun State Governor and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, as well as other nominations made by the disputed leadership.
The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
According to reports by Channels Television and Reuters, the judgment represents a significant setback for the ADC’s preparations for the next presidential election.
Atiku Accuses APC of Attempting to Weaken Opposition
Reacting to the judgment, Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to undermine the opposition and frustrate his presidential campaign.
In a statement issued through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the former Vice-President questioned the timing of the judgment.
He argued that the decision came barely a day after thousands of supporters gathered in Sokoto State for the launch of his presidential campaign.
Atiku suggested that the ruling was connected to concerns about the growing political support for his candidacy, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
He maintained that his political ambition was not restricted to the North, insisting that his campaign sought support from Nigerians across regional and political boundaries.
The former Vice-President also rejected any suggestion that the court judgment would bring his presidential ambition to an end.
He said the campaign would continue despite the legal setback and urged supporters to remain committed to the party’s political objectives.
Atiku further argued that Nigeria’s economic difficulties, including the rising cost of living, should remain central to the country’s political debate ahead of the 2027 election.
However, his allegations of political interference represent his position and have not been established as findings of the court.
ADC Rejects Judgment and Announces Plans to Appeal
The African Democratic Congress has also rejected the judgment, describing it as legally questionable and politically concerning.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC would challenge the decision through available judicial processes.
The party argued that the latest ruling raised questions because another Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman on July 2, 2026, had previously addressed the dispute surrounding the Mark-led leadership.
According to the ADC, the earlier judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 dismissed a challenge to the leadership on grounds that included jurisdiction, legal standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
The party maintained that a court of coordinate jurisdiction should not overturn or review a subsisting judgment delivered by another court of equal standing.
It also questioned the circumstances surrounding the latest proceedings and said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to determine its precise implications.
The ADC said the decision could affect thousands of its members and candidates preparing to contest elective positions across Nigeria in 2027.
The party’s position is that the judgment should not be treated as the final resolution of the dispute while its proposed legal challenge remains available.
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Legal Dispute Raises Questions About ADC’s 2027 Election Plans
The legal battle has placed the ADC’s electoral preparations under fresh pressure, particularly because the court’s decision extends beyond Atiku’s presidential nomination.
The judgment affects the legitimacy of the party’s national leadership and decisions taken under the Mark-led executive, including the nomination of candidates for other elective positions.
This creates uncertainty for politicians who had aligned themselves with the ADC as an alternative platform ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party had attracted prominent political figures seeking to build a stronger opposition coalition capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the APC.
Atiku’s emergence as the ADC presidential candidate was therefore an important development in the opposition’s efforts to consolidate support ahead of the next election.
The latest judgment now raises questions about whether the party can resolve its leadership dispute and complete the necessary electoral preparations within the applicable legal and electoral timelines.
The legal implications will depend partly on the exact terms of the judgment, subsequent court orders and the outcome of any appeal.
Earlier Court Judgment Becomes Central to ADC’s Argument
One of the major issues raised by the ADC concerns the relationship between the November 5 judgment and an earlier decision delivered by Justice Musa Liman.
The party maintains that the July 2 ruling had already addressed questions surrounding the legitimacy of the David Mark-led leadership.
Its argument is that the latest proceedings effectively reopened issues that had previously been considered by a court of the same level.
The dispute highlights the importance of judicial consistency, the authority of court decisions and the procedures governing leadership transitions within Nigerian political parties.
However, the ADC’s interpretation of the earlier judgment and its legal objections will have to be considered through the appropriate judicial process.
The Court of Appeal may ultimately be required to examine the competing legal arguments and determine the effect of the different proceedings.
Until then, the disagreement leaves the party facing both a leadership crisis and uncertainty over its electoral position.
APC Denies Responsibility for ADC’s Internal Crisis
The political controversy surrounding the judgment has also generated reactions from other political stakeholders.
The ruling APC has denied responsibility for the ADC’s internal leadership problems, describing the dispute as an internal matter for the opposition party.
The ADC, however, has continued to question the political circumstances surrounding the legal developments, arguing that the consequences could weaken opposition participation ahead of the 2027 election.
The disagreement reflects growing political tensions as parties position themselves for the next presidential contest.
The court proceedings have also attracted concern from opposition figures and political organisations who have warned that prolonged internal disputes could affect political pluralism and public confidence in the electoral process.
The Guardian reported that different political stakeholders had expressed concern about the implications of the judgment for opposition preparations and Nigeria’s democratic environment.
Nevertheless, the existence of a political dispute does not establish that the judiciary acted under the influence of any political party. The legal arguments must be assessed through the judicial process.
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Why the Judgment Matters for Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Election
The dispute involving Atiku and the ADC is significant because it comes at a critical stage in Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
Atiku remains one of the country’s most prominent opposition politicians. He served as Vice-President between 1999 and 2007 and has contested the presidency multiple times.
He was the runner-up in the 2023 presidential election, while President Bola Tinubu emerged victorious and Peter Obi finished third.
His decision to pursue another presidential campaign through the ADC had added a significant dimension to the opposition’s political calculations.
The latest judgment therefore raises questions about the ability of opposition parties to maintain stable leadership structures, organise their primaries and present candidates without prolonged internal litigation.
For Nigerian voters, the dispute matters because political party stability and transparent candidate selection are important components of a credible electoral process.
It also demonstrates how internal party disagreements can develop into major legal battles with consequences extending beyond the politicians directly involved.
The controversy comes against the background of economic difficulties, public concerns about insecurity and debates over the direction of the country’s economic reforms.
As political parties prepare for the next election, voters will be watching how the competing political groups address these challenges and present their policy alternatives.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is the legal challenge announced by Atiku and the ADC.
The party has indicated that it intends to approach the Court of Appeal to contest the Federal High Court’s decision.
The outcome of that process will be important in determining the legal status of the David Mark-led leadership and the presidential nomination that produced Atiku as the ADC candidate.
The party’s legal team is also expected to consider appropriate interim reliefs, including a possible application for a stay of execution, subject to the applicable legal requirements.
However, an announced intention to appeal should not be confused with a confirmed appellate filing or an order suspending the judgment.
As of November 6, 2026, the available reports confirm the Federal High Court’s decision and the ADC’s intention to challenge it. They do not establish that an appellate court has overturned the judgment or granted a stay.
The development leaves Atiku maintaining his determination to pursue the 2027 presidential race while the legal dispute continues.
For now, the battle over the ADC’s leadership and presidential ticket is far from resolved politically, with the next judicial proceedings likely to shape the party’s position ahead of the election.
Atiku’s declaration that no court ruling can keep him off the 2027 ballot signals that he intends to continue the political fight, even as the judgment presents a substantial legal obstacle to his candidacy.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Reuters – Nigerian court voids candidacy of opposition ADC’s Atiku for 2027 election.
- Associated Press – Nigerian court nullifies presidential contender’s candidacy.
- The Punch – Court ruling rattles ADC, threatens Atiku’s presidential bid.
- Channels Television – Court sacks Mark-led ADC executive, voids Atiku’s candidacy.
- The Guardian – ADC judgment throws opposition’s 2027 plans into uncertainty.
- Voice of Nigeria – ADC presidential candidate to appeal court ruling.
