The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that Thursday’s court judgment seeking to remove Senator David Mark from the party’s leadership is part of a wider plot to weaken the opposition and frustrate his presidential campaign.
Reacting to the ruling through a statement signed by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said those behind the judgment were afraid of the growing acceptance of the ADC across the country.
He said the judgment came shortly after the successful launch of the party’s presidential campaign in Sokoto, where thousands of supporters attended the rally.
“The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward.”
The former vice president maintained that his campaign was not limited to any region of the country.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries. Nigerians across the country are suffering under this government, and they deserve a leader with a credible plan to make life affordable again.”
Atiku insisted that the judgment was aimed at weakening the ADC’s growing support base.
“The timing of this judgment is no coincidence. It is part of a strategy to weaken my support in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message is resonating across the country. But the ruling party’s greatest miscalculation is to assume that my support ends in the North. What we saw in Sokoto, what we will see in Kebbi and across the country, is the strength of a national movement.”
He also faulted the legal process that produced the ruling, arguing that an earlier judgment had already settled the issue of the party’s leadership.
“Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had already dismissed the challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025. The court upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and the failure to exhaust internal party remedies, and resolved the substantive issues in their favour. Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute? This is a calculated attempt to circumvent a subsisting judgment. We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal.”
Atiku appealed to ADC members and supporters not to be discouraged by the development, saying the party would continue its nationwide campaign.
“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis. We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking.”
The latest court ruling has added another twist to the leadership dispute within the ADC, with the party now preparing to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal while continuing its nationwide campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.