The party confirmed receiving the judgment on Wednesday, the final day of the seven-day period stipulated by the Constitution for the release of authenticated copies of court decisions.
In a statement, ADC Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, expressed concern over the delay, arguing that the late release had left the opposition party with limited time to prepare its appeal.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 5, 2026. It nullified the emergence of Senator David Mark as the party’s National Chairman and the actions taken under his leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The ADC said it would pursue all available legal remedies, insisting that its constitutional right to appeal must be respected.
The development followed petitions submitted by ADC candidates to several Nigerian and international institutions, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian Bar Association, the United Nations, ECOWAS, the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The candidates called for diplomatic intervention to ensure that the party could exercise its right of appeal before any action was taken to remove its candidates from the 2027 ballot.
Speaking during the submission of a petition to the United Nations, the group’s leader, Aliyu Audu, said the dispute had implications beyond the ADC, warning that denying political parties access to legal remedies could undermine democratic competition.
He maintained that democracy depended on citizens’ ability to choose their leaders through credible elections rather than decisions reached through institutional processes without exhausting available legal options.
Meanwhile, Atiku condemned the sealing of Arewa House in Kaduna, which had been selected as the venue for his planned consultation with northern stakeholders on Thursday.
The former Vice-President accused the APC-led government of attempting to frustrate opposition activities, recalling an alleged similar experience during the party’s campaign flag-off in Sokoto.
He described the sealing of the historic building as an attack on democratic engagement and insisted that the opposition would not be intimidated.
The ADC also accused the ruling APC of using political influence to obstruct its activities, although the allegations have not been independently established.
In a separate development, former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, accused INEC and elements within the judiciary of being responsible for the crisis.
Speaking on ARISE News, Nwosu argued that an earlier judgment by a court of equal jurisdiction had validated the process that produced David Mark as party chairman and Atiku as its presidential candidate.
He maintained that the earlier ruling remained binding and questioned the legal basis of Justice Lifu’s decision.
Nwosu, however, said the party would appeal the judgment despite its confidence in the earlier court decision.
Also reacting, Senator Dino Melaye disclosed that the ADC had received the Certified True Copy of the judgment, claiming that Atiku’s name was not mentioned in the ruling.
In a Facebook post, Melaye wrote: “We have just received the Certified True Copy of the Justice Lifu’s judgement. Nowhere in the judgement is Atiku Abubakar’s name or any other candidate’s name mentioned. All the propaganda and lies of APC have expired. Atiku Abubakar is coming.”
The ADC’s Presidential Campaign Council also criticised the APC over reports and videos showing party officials distributing cash, gifts and food at political gatherings.
In a statement, Shaibu described the practice as an insult to Nigerians struggling with economic hardship and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and INEC to investigate possible violations of electoral and currency laws.
The council argued that political support should not be secured through financial inducements, insisting that Nigerians’ votes were not for sale.
The unfolding developments have intensified the political and legal battle surrounding the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the party insisting that it will exhaust all lawful options to protect its candidates and participate fully in the electoral process.
