Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exploiting Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment on the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to undermine his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku alleged that the ruling was part of a political strategy to weaken his support base in Northern Nigeria and frustrate the growing influence of the opposition party.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku noted that the judgment came barely 24 hours after thousands of supporters welcomed him to Sokoto for the launch of the party’s campaign.
He described the massive reception as evidence of growing public dissatisfaction with the economic situation and Nigerians’ desire for a change of government.
“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, adding that the campaign would extend to Kebbi and other parts of the country.
Rejecting suggestions that his presidential ambition was largely a Northern project, Atiku maintained that his political appeal transcended regional 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,” he said.
He argued that the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians were not limited to any particular region, insisting that his Affordable Life campaign offered a national alternative.
Atiku further alleged that the timing of the court judgment was deliberate and intended to disrupt the momentum of his campaign.
“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.
The former vice president also questioned the decision to reopen the ADC leadership dispute despite an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
According to him, the earlier court had dismissed the challenge to the David Mark-led ADC leadership after upholding objections relating to jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
He also maintained that the substantive issues had been resolved in favour of the defendants.
Questioning the basis for the fresh proceedings, Atiku described the development as an attempt to circumvent an existing judgment and disclosed that the party would challenge the latest decision at the Court of Appeal.
“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 said.
Despite the setback, Atiku urged ADC members and supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that the ruling would not derail the party’s mobilisation.
He said the Affordable Life campaign would continue, urging supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation through house-to-house and door-to-door engagements as the campaign train moved to Kebbi.
“There is no shaking,” he declared.