Court ruling puts ADC’s 2027 plans in doubt as Keyamo criticises Atiku
A Federal High Court judgment invalidating the leadership of the African Democratic Congress has raised questions about the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections, including the status of its presidential primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.
Reacting to the decision, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo said legal disputes should be resolved on evidence and facts, not political sentiment or public anger. In a post on social media, he also took aim at Atiku and the faction led by David Mark.
“Justice may be slow, but it is always sure,” Keyamo wrote, accusing the Mark-led group of taking control of the party without following the procedures set out in its constitution.
He argued that the party’s leadership could not bypass the required approvals and then blame the ruling party for the consequences. Keyamo also said the ADC remained active and belonged to its members and original leaders, whom he described as no less Nigerian than Mark and his supporters.
Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the Mark-led Caretaker Committee was unlawfully formed and invalidated its actions. These included the party’s presidential primary, the emergence of former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, the appointments of other national officers and the nominations of candidates for the 2027 elections.
The case was filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman for the North-East. He argued that after former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu resigned, the party’s constitution entitled him to take over its leadership. Gombe asked the court to overturn decisions made by the caretaker leadership and stop Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary.
The ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were named as defendants. Upholding Gombe’s case, Justice Lifu found that the caretaker committee’s emergence breached the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The ruling leaves the party facing uncertainty over its leadership and the validity of key decisions made under the committee. Zoyols News will continue to follow developments as the ADC responds to the judgment.
