Atiku Abubakar assures ADC supporters, calls primaries valid

A former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, spoke on Monday about claims that the Court of Appeal ruling on the party's leadership issues invalidated the ADC's primary elections for the 2027 general election. He said the ruling only focused on how the party's congresses were run and the terms of its state executives.

Atiku reacted to the appellate court's decision, saying it was deceptive to claim that the ADC's presidential ticket was falling apart. He described such claims as political tricks meant to confuse Nigerians and weaken the opposition.

In a statement from his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku told party members and supporters to stay calm. He assured them that the judgment did not affect the candidates who came out of the party's direct primaries.

“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.

“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,” the statement said.

Atiku pointed out that there is a clear legal difference between electing party executives through internal congresses and nominating candidates through statutory primary elections.

“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. They are distinct legal exercises, governed by different legal principles and serving different constitutional purposes. One should not be confused with the other,” he added.

He also stressed that courts can only decide on issues presented to them.

“It is a settled principle of law that courts determine only the issues submitted before them. They neither manufacture disputes nor pronounce on matters that were never placed before them. Any attempt to stretch this judgment beyond its proper scope is an invitation to legal absurdity,” he stated.

Atiku criticized those misrepresenting the judgment on social media.

“Our opponents appear more eager to write judgments on social media than to read the one delivered by the Court of Appeal. Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, not by headlines, hashtags or the fantasies of political opportunists,” he said.

The ADC has already told its legal team to take the case to the Supreme Court to challenge the appellate court's decision.

“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,” Atiku said.

He urged party supporters not to lose hope over this setback.

“Let no supporter of the ADC lose sleep. Let no Nigerian who believes in the restoration of our country be discouraged. 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 said.

The Court of Appeal, in a split decision of two to one in Abuja on Monday, agreed with the Federal High Court's ruling that stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing or taking part in state congresses organized by committees set up by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC.

The majority judgment, given by Justice Okon Abang and supported by Justice Donatus Okorowo, said the dispute involved constitutional questions and was not protected by the doctrine of internal party affairs. Justice Abba Mohammed, who disagreed, said the matter was an internal party issue that the Federal High Court should not have handled.

After the ruling, the ADC announced it would appeal to the Supreme Court, insisting the decision did not impact candidates who came out of the party's primary elections for the 2027 polls.

Reaffirming this stance, Atiku said the party will stay focused on the 2027 general election.

“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,” he added.