Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims that the Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership crisis invalidated the party’s primary elections ahead of the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the appellate court’s ruling, Atiku described suggestions that the judgment had nullified the ADC’s presidential ticket as political propaganda aimed at misleading Nigerians and weakening the opposition.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president urged party members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the court’s decision was limited to issues relating to the conduct of the party’s state congresses and the tenure of its state executives.
“Those celebrating today should celebrate with caution. Those attempting to sell false hope to their supporters should remember that political propaganda can never substitute for judicial pronouncements,” the statement said.
“The judgment being celebrated relates to the conduct of state congresses and the tenure of State Executive Committees. It does not, from the facts available, amount to a judicial nullification of the ADC’s primary elections conducted under the Electoral Act.”
Atiku argued that there is a clear legal distinction between the election of party executives through internal congresses and the nomination of candidates through statutory primary elections.
“There is a world of legal difference between the election of party executives through internal congresses and the nomination of candidates through statutory primary elections.
They are distinct legal exercises, governed by different legal principles and serving different constitutional purposes. One should not be confused with the other,” he added.
The ADC chieftain further maintained that courts are bound to decide only matters brought before them and cannot make pronouncements on issues not presented for determination.
“It is a settled principle of law that courts determine only the issues submitted before them. They neither manufacture disputes nor pronounce on matters that were never placed before them. Any attempt to stretch this judgment beyond its proper scope is an invitation to legal absurdity,” he stated.
Atiku also criticised what he described as attempts by political opponents to misrepresent the judgment on social media.
“Our opponents appear more eager to write judgments on social media than to read the one delivered by the Court of Appeal. Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, not by headlines, hashtags or the fantasies of political opportunists,” he said.
The former vice president disclosed that the ADC had instructed its legal team to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.
“We remain respectful of the judiciary and have already instructed our legal team to approach the Supreme Court for a definitive determination of the issues arising from the judgment. That is the proper constitutional path, and we have absolute confidence in the judicial process,” he said.
He urged party supporters not to be discouraged by the legal setback, stressing that the opposition remained focused on the 2027 elections.
“The struggle to rescue Nigeria has never been about one courtroom or one judgment. It is a movement born out of the collective desire of millions of Nigerians for competent leadership, economic recovery, national unity and the restoration of hope,” Atiku said.
The Court of Appeal, in a split decision of two to one delivered in Abuja on Monday, upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or participating in state congresses organised by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC.
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The majority judgment, delivered by Justice Okon Abang and supported by Justice Donatus Okorowo, held that the dispute involved constitutional issues and was therefore not protected by the doctrine of internal party affairs.
However, the presiding justice, Abba Mohammed, dissented, maintaining that the matter was an internal party dispute that should not have been entertained by the Federal High Court.
Despite the ruling, the ADC has maintained that the judgment does not affect candidates who emerged through the party’s primary elections and reaffirmed its commitment to participating in the 2027 general election.
“The road to 2027 remains open, and the resolve of the Nigerian people cannot be overturned by propaganda. Our destination remains unchanged, and by the grace of God and the will of the Nigerian people, we shall arrive,” Atiku added.
