“My Candidacy Belongs To All Nigerians” — Atiku Accuses APC Of Trying To Weaken His Northern Support Through ADC Court Ruling

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to weaken the opposition party and frustrate his presidential ambition following Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and the party’s nominations for the 2027 general elections.

Atiku described the judgment as a calculated attempt to undermine his growing political support, particularly in Northern Nigeria, insisting that the decision would not stop his presidential campaign or weaken the movement he said was gathering momentum across the country.

In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the former Vice-President questioned the timing of the ruling, which came barely 24 hours after he launched his presidential campaign before a large crowd in Sokoto State.

According to him, the ruling was part of a broader strategy to frustrate his campaign following the reception he received from supporters in Sokoto.

“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,” Atiku stated.

He maintained that the ruling party had miscalculated by assuming that his political support was restricted to Northern Nigeria.

“But 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,” he added.

The former Vice-President said the turnout at his campaign launch in Sokoto demonstrated the growing demand for political change among Nigerians facing economic hardship.

He maintained that thousands of residents attended the event because they believed in his campaign’s promise to address the rising cost of living and make basic necessities affordable.

“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,” he said.

Atiku explained that the Sokoto rally marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign that would take his message to Kebbi State and other parts of the country.

He rejected any suggestion that his presidential ambition was primarily directed at Northern voters, stressing that the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians affected citizens irrespective of their geographical locations.

“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,” he stated.

He added that hunger and economic hardship did not recognise regional boundaries, arguing that Nigerians across the country deserved leadership capable of addressing their economic challenges.

Beyond his political allegations, Atiku questioned the legal basis of the judgment, arguing that the Federal High Court had previously determined a challenge concerning the emergence of the Mark-led ADC leadership.

He specifically referred to an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.

According to Atiku, Justice Liman had dismissed a challenge to the leadership of the ADC under Mark after upholding objections concerning jurisdiction, the legal standing of the plaintiff and the failure to exhaust the party’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms.

The earlier suit was instituted by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, who challenged the process through which Mark and former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola emerged as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

In his July 2, 2026 judgment, Justice Liman upheld the objections raised by the defendants and resolved the issues presented in their favour.

Atiku argued that the existence of the earlier judgment raised serious questions about Thursday’s decision by another judge of the same court.

He questioned why another proceeding had been pursued to challenge the same leadership arrangement despite the earlier ruling.

“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 former Vice-President’s reaction followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Justice Lifu declared the Mark-led caretaker leadership unlawful and invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the ADC candidate for the 2027 elections.

The court also nullified the emergence of Aregbesola as National Secretary and other national officers who assumed office under the disputed leadership arrangement.

The judgment extended to the party’s electoral nominations made through processes conducted under that leadership.

Gombe had challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership assumed control of the party, arguing that it violated the ADC constitution and applicable electoral requirements.

Justice Lifu upheld his challenge and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognise decisions arising from the disputed leadership structure.

Although both proceedings concerned the emergence of the Mark-led leadership, the earlier suit before Justice Liman and the case determined by Justice Lifu were instituted by different plaintiffs. Whether the earlier judgment legally prevents the subsequent decision from standing is among the issues Atiku says the party intends to raise on appeal.

Reacting to the development, Atiku maintained that the judgment would not derail his political activities or discourage his supporters.

He urged ADC members and supporters across the country to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the party pursued available legal remedies.

The former Vice-President also appealed to supporters not to allow the court decision to undermine the momentum generated by the Sokoto campaign.

According to the statement, the ADC presidential campaign had already moved to Kebbi State and would continue its engagements across the country despite the judgment.

Atiku reiterated his commitment to the campaign’s central message of addressing economic hardship and improving affordability for Nigerians.

He maintained that the party’s political activities would continue while its legal team challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal.

“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one,” he said, insisting that the Affordable Life campaign would continue.

The former Vice-President urged supporters to remain resolute, take the campaign message to communities and maintain peaceful political engagement.

“There is no shaking,” he declared.

Atiku’s allegations against the APC remain political claims made by his campaign; the court judgment itself concerned the legality of the ADC leadership and the nominations conducted under it.

With the party preparing to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal, the dispute over its national leadership and the validity of Atiku’s presidential nomination is set to continue through the judicial process.

For Atiku, however, the immediate message to his supporters is that the court ruling will not bring his 2027 presidential campaign to a halt.

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