Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exploiting the latest Federal High Court judgment on the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to undermine his presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
Atiku alleged that the ruling was part of an attempt to weaken his political influence in Northern Nigeria and restrict the ADC’s growing support across the country.
The former vice president made the allegation in a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
He linked the timing of the judgment to his recent campaign appearance in Sokoto, where thousands of supporters reportedly welcomed him ahead of the party’s campaign activities.
According to Atiku, the court decision came barely a day after the reception, which he described as evidence of increasing public support for his political movement.
He, however, insisted that the development would not affect the party’s mobilisation or its appeal beyond the northern region.
Atiku said the economic challenges confronting Nigerians had made his campaign relevant across the country, rejecting the suggestion that his presidential ambition was limited to the North.
“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 said.
He further alleged that the judgment was deliberately timed to interrupt the momentum of his campaign and limit its expansion.
“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,” he said.
On the legal dispute, Atiku questioned the decision to reopen the ADC leadership case despite an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He referred to Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, in which he said the court had dismissed a challenge to the David Mark-led leadership after upholding objections relating to jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
The former vice president also maintained that the substantive issues in the earlier case had been resolved in favour of the defendants.
He questioned the basis for instituting another case over the same leadership dispute and described the development as an attempt to bypass an existing court decision.
“We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he said.
Despite the legal development, Atiku urged ADC members and supporters to remain peaceful, insisting that the party’s campaign would continue.
He said the party’s Affordable Life campaign was aimed at addressing the economic difficulties facing Nigerians and pledged that its mobilisation would extend to communities across the country.
With the campaign train already in Kebbi State, Atiku called on supporters to take the party’s message to voters through house-to-house and door-to-door engagements.
“There is no shaking,” he declared.
