Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged party members and Nigerians to remain calm and focused, clarifying that the recent Court of Appeal judgment regarding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) does not invalidate the party’s primary elections for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dismissed reports suggesting the judgment jeopardizes the party’s presidential ticket as a “campaign of misinformation.”
“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,” Atiku stated.
He further clarified the legal distinction between the two processes: “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. 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.”
Atiku emphasized that the judiciary only rules on matters brought before it and cautioned against misinterpreting the scope of the decision.
“Any attempt to stretch this judgment beyond its proper scope is an invitation to legal absurdity. Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, not by headlines, hashtags or the fantasies of political opportunists.”
Regarding the next steps, Atiku confirmed that the legal team has been directed to seek a definitive determination from 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.”
Addressing supporters, he encouraged them to continue their grassroots mobilization efforts. “Let no supporter of the ADC lose sleep. 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.”
He concluded with a message of resolve, stating, “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.”
