Nigerian court invalidates Atiku’s 2027 candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday invalidated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate president David Mark and annulled the actions taken by that team, including Atiku Abubakar’s nomination as the party’s candidate for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, reports Vanguard, P.M. News and Aminiya. The judgment was delivered by Judge Peter Lifu in proceedings brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the ADC’s former national vice-president for the North-East according to Vanguard, whom P.M. News and Aminiya describe as a deputy national vice-president.

The court found that the interim committee led by David Mark, which organised the primary that selected Atiku Abubakar, had been unlawfully constituted. P.M. News said the procedures that enabled Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola and other national officials to take up their positions were also ruled unlawful, with the judge finding that the leadership had no legal authority to act on behalf of the ADC. Aminiya reported that the court annulled the appointments of Mark, Aregbesola and other national officials.

The decision also invalidates, according to P.M. News and Aminiya, the nominations of the ADC’s other candidates for the 2027 general elections, since they were conducted under the authority declared unlawful. It calls into question Atiku’s candidacy, whose name had already been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as the actions of the leadership, which included Rauf Aregbesola.

The ADC has announced its intention to appeal. Its national secretary for social affairs, Nkemakolam Ukandu, said the verdict would be challenged before the appellate court, while the presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027. The decision came less than 24 hours after an Atiku Abubakar rally in Sokoto as part of his campaign and after his pledges to restore security in Nigeria in 2027, announced on 4 November.