Atiku, in a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, alleged that the timing of the judgment was suspicious, coming barely 24 hours after thousands of supporters gathered in Sokoto for the party’s presidential campaign flag-off.
The former Vice-President maintained that the large turnout at the Sokoto rally demonstrated growing public support for the ADC and its campaign message, insisting that the party’s activities would continue despite the legal setback.
“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,” he said.
Atiku also rejected suggestions that his political ambition was limited to Northern Nigeria, stressing that his candidacy was intended to represent Nigerians across regional and ethnic boundaries.
“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,” he stated.
He further alleged that the court judgment was part of a political strategy to weaken his support in the North and disrupt the momentum of the ADC’s nationwide campaign.
“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,” Atiku said.
The ADC presidential candidate insisted that the party would challenge the ruling through the appropriate judicial channels.
Atiku Questions Previous Court Decision
Atiku also raised legal objections to the judgment, referring to an earlier decision delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which he said had dismissed a challenge to the David Mark-led leadership.
According to him, the earlier judgment upheld objections relating to jurisdiction, the legal standing of the claimant and failure to exhaust the party’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms.
He questioned why another suit was instituted to reopen the leadership dispute after the earlier decision, describing the development as an attempt to circumvent an existing judicial pronouncement.
“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,” he declared.
The ADC leadership crisis culminated in Thursday’s Federal High Court ruling by Justice Peter Lifu, which nullified the Mark-led caretaker committee and invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the emergence of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Following the judgment, the ADC announced plans to appeal the decision.
Campaign to Continue Despite Court Ruling
Atiku urged party members and supporters to remain calm, peaceful and committed to the party’s political activities, warning against allowing the court judgment to undermine the momentum generated during the Sokoto rally.
He disclosed that the ADC campaign train had moved to Kebbi State and would continue its engagements across the country.
The former Vice-President said the party’s Affordable Life campaign would remain focused on addressing the country’s economic difficulties and the rising cost of living.
“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,” he said.
He called on supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation by taking the party’s message to communities, households and individual voters while remaining law-abiding.
“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,” he added.
The statement was signed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, in Birnin Kebbi.
The ADC’s planned appeal is expected to determine the next phase of the legal dispute, which has introduced uncertainty over the party’s leadership and participation in the 2027 general elections.
