Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reiterated his determination to contest the 2027 presidential election following a Federal High Court ruling that affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress under former Senate President David Mark.
The Abuja court dismissed a suit filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, challenging the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership structure. Justice Musa Liman ruled that the matter concerned the internal affairs of a political party and was therefore beyond the court’s jurisdiction. The court also held that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the suit and had failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
Reacting to the judgment, Atiku described the decision as a victory for constitutional democracy and the rule of law. He commended the judiciary for resisting what he alleged were attempts to use legal processes to destabilise opposition politics in Nigeria.
The former vice president maintained that the David Mark-led National Working Committee emerged through a lawful and transparent process and insisted that no amount of political pressure or litigation would derail the party’s plans ahead of the 2027 general election. He called on party members to remain united and committed to strengthening democratic institutions in the country.
David Mark also welcomed the ruling, describing it as a major victory for democracy and an affirmation of the party’s constitutional processes. The ADC leadership expressed hope that the judgment would put an end to repeated legal challenges and allow the party to focus on positioning itself as a formidable opposition platform ahead of the next presidential election.
