Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims that the Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership crisis invalidated the ADC’s primary elections for the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the ruling on Monday, Atiku described reports suggesting that the party’s presidential ticket had collapsed as political propaganda aimed at misleading Nigerians and weakening the opposition.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku urged party members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the appellate court’s decision was limited to issues surrounding the conduct of the party’s state congresses and the tenure of its State Executive Committees.
According to him, the judgment did not affect candidates who emerged through the party’s direct primary elections conducted under the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Atiku explained 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, stressing that the two processes are governed by different legal principles.
He also maintained that courts can only determine matters specifically brought before them, adding that any attempt to interpret the judgment as nullifying the party’s primaries amounts to a misrepresentation of the court’s decision.
The former vice president criticised what he described as misinformation circulating on social media, saying Nigeria is governed by the rule of law rather than political narratives.
Atiku disclosed that the ADC has directed its legal team to challenge the Court of Appeal’s judgment at the Supreme Court, expressing confidence that the apex court will provide a definitive interpretation of the issues raised in the case.
He urged party faithful not to lose confidence, assuring them that the party would continue to pursue all available constitutional and legal avenues.
