ADC appeals annulment of Atiku’s presidential ticket, urges INEC to wait

Atiku Abubakar’s campaign says the ADC has filed an appeal and a stay application against the Federal High Court judgement invalidating its leadership and candidate nominations. It has asked INEC not to act before the Court of Appeal considers the case.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council says the party has appealed the Federal High Court judgement invalidating its leadership and Atiku Abubakar’s presidential nomination, and has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to act on the ruling while the appeal is pending.

The council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the stay application has not been determined.

“INEC must therefore exercise restraint. It must not act as though the appeal and stay application do not exist, or take any step that could pre-empt the Court of Appeal and undermine the proper resolution of this matter,” Mr Shaibu said.

On Thursday, the campaign council said its lawyers were preparing to seek interim relief. Friday’s statement says the court processes have now been filed.

PREMIUM TIMES has not independently obtained the notice of appeal, stay application or correspondence reportedly delivered to INEC.

Mr Shaibu said the party expected the electoral commission to take account of the pending proceedings before making any decision affecting the disputed leadership and nominations.

“We expect INEC to uphold the law and take full account of the pending proceedings before making any consequential decision,” he said.

Filing an appeal or applying for a stay does not, by itself, suspend the judgement. The campaign council acknowledged that its application remains undetermined.

The statement did not cite any subsequent court order restraining INEC from implementing Thursday’s ruling.

Mr Shaibu urged party members to remain calm and said the presidential campaign would continue.

“Our campaigns continue without interruption. There is no stopping the affordability train or our mission to make life better for Nigerians,” he said.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the David Mark-led ADC leadership on Thursday, setting aside decisions taken under it, including nominations for the 2027 elections.

The judgement followed a suit brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman for the North-East, who challenged the leadership arrangement.

Friday’s statement identified the case as FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2025, while earlier PREMIUM TIMES reporting identified Mr Gombe’s suit as FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025. The discrepancy remains unresolved.

The Mark-led ADC rejected Thursday’s judgement, arguing that it conflicts with an earlier Federal High Court ruling delivered by Justice Musa Liman in a separate leadership case.

INEC had included Mr Atiku and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, on its presidential candidate list before Thursday’s judgement. The commission’s response to the reported appeal and notification was not available when it was filed.