Atiku dismisses court ruling on ADC leadership, vows to challenge judgment

*Presidential candidate alleges plot to weaken party, frustrate his candidacy

*Insists ADC campaign will continue nationwide despite legal setback

By OUR REPORTER

“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.

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment affecting the leadership of Senator David Mark, describing it as a calculated attempt to weaken the opposition party and frustrate his presidential ambition.

Atiku, however, vowed to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, insisting that it would not derail the ADC’s campaign or the party’s determination to rescue Nigeria from what he described as the hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President questioned the timing of the judgment, which came barely a day after thousands of supporters welcomed him to Sokoto State for the launch of the party’s presidential campaign.

He described the massive turnout in Sokoto as evidence of growing nationwide support for the ADC and its promise to address the country’s economic challenges.

“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 maintained that although his roots were in Northern Nigeria, his presidential ambition was national, stressing that the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians cut 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,” he stated.

He alleged that the timing of the court ruling was part of a broader strategy to weaken his political support in the North and frustrate the ADC’s growing national campaign.

“The ruling party’s greatest miscalculation is to assume that my support ends in the North. What we saw in Sokoto, what we will see in Kebbi and across the country, is the strength of a national movement,” Atiku added.

The ADC presidential candidate also raised legal concerns over the judgment, arguing that a similar dispute concerning the David Mark-led leadership of the party had previously been determined by another judge of the same Federal High Court.

According to him, Justice Musa Liman had, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, dismissed a challenge to the party’s leadership after upholding objections relating to jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.

He further claimed that the court had resolved the substantive issues in favour of the defendants, questioning why another suit was instituted to reopen the dispute.

“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.

Atiku urged ADC supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, warning against allowing the latest development to undermine the momentum generated by the party’s campaign launch in Sokoto.

He disclosed that the campaign train had already moved to Kebbi State and would proceed to other parts of the country.

Reaffirming his commitment to the campaign, Atiku said the party would sustain its Affordable Life message, which he described as a response to the worsening cost-of-living crisis.

“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.

“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 said.