Supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar staged protests in Abuja following a court ruling that nullified the primary election process of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The decision, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on Thursday, declared the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee of the ADC illegal. This committee was responsible for organising the party’s primary election, which produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling has thrown the ADC’s 2027 political ambitions into uncertainty, as it effectively voids the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership and its selection of a candidate. Demonstrators gathered in parts of the Federal Capital Territory to express dissatisfaction with the judicial outcome.
According to the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the caretaker committee lacked the legal mandate to conduct the primary election. The court’s finding suggests that the process used to nominate Atiku did not comply with the party’s constitution or the established legal framework for political transitions.
Legal implications for ADC presidential candidacy
The ADC has been a central player in the coalition politics surrounding the 2027 elections. The invalidation of the caretaker committee creates a leadership vacuum and necessitates an immediate administrative overhaul of the party’s internal structures to remain viable.
Protesters in Abuja argued that the ruling undermines the democratic will of the party members and threatens the political roadmap established for the next election cycle. They demanded that the party leadership take immediate steps to rectify the situation and protect the interests of their candidate.
Legal analysts suggest that the next move for the party and Atiku’s camp will involve an appeal at the Court of Appeal. The supporters’ protest highlights the high stakes involved, as Atiku’s political faction relies on the ADC’s platform to challenge the current administration in the next general election.
While the protest was largely peaceful, security agencies were deployed to monitor the gatherings and prevent clashes in the capital. No official statement has been released by the ADC leadership or Atiku’s campaign team regarding their immediate legal response to the ruling. The party now faces the urgent task of resolving its leadership dispute to avoid being disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 polls.
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