What’s next for Atiku after court nullifies party leadership?

Atiku Abubakar says he will appeal a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the Mark-led ADC leadership and his 2027 nomination, while the ADC seeks a stay of execution and Nafiu Bala Gombe’s faction, which won the case, insists the party has no valid candidates.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says he will challenge a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the process that produced him as its 2027 presidential candidate, The PUNCH reports.

Justice Peter Lifu ruled on Thursday in Abuja that the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution. The court also nullified Rauf Aregbesola’s emergence as National Secretary and the party’s nominations for 2027, and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise decisions taken at the party’s July 27, 2025 National Executive Committee meeting. The suit was filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman (North-East).

In a statement by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said: “We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal.” He cited a July 2, 2026 ruling by Justice Musa Liman in a separate suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which dismissed a challenge to the Mark-led leadership, and asked: “Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute?” The PUNCH noted that the earlier suit was filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide and was separate from Gombe’s case.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council said its legal team was taking steps to seek interim relief, including a stay of execution where legally applicable, before appealing. The party said it was awaiting a Certified True Copy of the judgment to establish its terms and scope. National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said: “We have reasons to believe that the judgment had long been written on this case.”

Gombe’s counsel, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the ruling left the party without candidates. “As it stands today, the ADC has no candidate from the presidential level to the House of Representatives, governorship, Senate and all other elective positions for the 2027 election,” Haruna said. He added that only candidates from Gombe’s faction would be recognised.

Gombe ruled out immediate reconciliation. “I call on Atiku Abubakar and David Mark to go to their respective wards, register officially as members of the ADC, and join us so that we can work together for the success of the party,” he said.

Atiku said his campaign would continue. “Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis. There is no shaking,” he declared. He was in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, where he pledged to restore fuel subsidy and tackle insecurity if elected. Rotimi Amaechi is his running mate.

NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi wrote: “My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty.” Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo defended the judgment and blamed the Mark-led camp for the crisis. The SDP, Labour Party, NDC, PDP and APM condemned the ruling.