Court judgment aimed at weakening ADC, frustrating my ambition – Atiku

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the court judgment that sacked the Sen. David Mark-led leadership of the party on Thursday as as politically motivated.

Justice Peter Lifu who delivered the judgment had also invalidated all decisions taken by the party under the Mark-led leadership, including the May 25 presidential election in which former Vice President Atiku Abubakar won.’

Justice Lifu declared as illegal the Mark-led interim National Working Committee (NWC)

Reacting to the judgment, Atiku, in a statement ​‌‌⁠‌‍⁠⁠‍‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‌‌‌​issued by Phrank Shaibu, ADC-PCC campaign spokesperson on Thursday in Abuja, said the ruling was aimed at weakening the party and frustrating his presidential candidacy.

Atiku questioned the judgment’s timing, coming barely a day after he was welcomed by party supporters in Sokoto.

“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,” he said.

Atiku said his candidacy was national, not limited to Northern Nigeria, adding that hunger and hardship affected citizens across regional and ethnic boundaries throughout Nigeria.

“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.

“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,” Atiku said.

The former vice-president also questioned the legal basis for reopening the leadership dispute, citing an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court.

He said that Liman had dismissed the challenge to the Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 and upheld objections on jurisdiction, standing and exhaustion of internal remedies.

“Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute? This is a calculated attempt to circumvent a subsisting judgment,” he added.

Atiku said the party would challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal and urged supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding amid tensions.

He also urged supporters not to allow the judgment to undermine the momentum generated in Sokoto, saying that the campaign train was already in Kebbi and would continue.

Atiku urged supporters to remain resolute, take the campaign message from house to house and door to door, and remain peaceful and focused.

According to him, there is no shaking. (NAN)