Court Ruling: Atiku Accuses APC of Plot to Weaken ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to weaken his party and undermine his presidential ambition through a court judgment that invalidated its leadership under former Senate President David Mark. 

Atiku described Thursday’s ruling as a calculated move against the opposition party, arguing that its timing, a day after his campaign rally in Sokoto State, was suspicious.

In a statement issued by his campaign council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the large turnout at the Sokoto event reflected Nigerians’ demand for political change and relief from rising living costs.

PRESS STATEMENT

THE PANIC IS REAL — ATIKU

The Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned Thursday’s court judgment purporting to remove Senator David Mark’s leadership of the party, describing it as a calculated attempt to weaken the ADC and frustrate his candidacy.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the timing of the judgment was telling. It came barely a day after a mammoth crowd turned out in Sokoto to welcome him and attend the launch of the ADC campaign.

“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. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward.

“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. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries. Nigerians across the country are suffering under this government, and they deserve a leader with a credible plan to make life affordable again.

“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. 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.”

Atiku said the judgment also raises serious legal concerns.

“Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had already dismissed the challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025. The court upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and the failure to exhaust internal party remedies, and resolved the substantive issues in their favour. 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.”

Atiku urged ADC supporters to remain calm and law-abiding and not to let the judgment weaken the momentum generated in Sokoto. The campaign train is already in Kebbi and will continue across the country.

“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis. We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking.”

Signed:
Phrank Shaibu
Director of Strategic Communication
ADC Presidential Campaign Council
Birnin Kebbi

5th November 2026

— Phrank Shaibu (@phrankangel) November 5, 2026

He maintained that although he was from Northern Nigeria, his presidential ambition was national, noting that economic hardship affected citizens across regional boundaries.

Atiku alleged that the judgment was intended to weaken his support in the North and disrupt a campaign whose message was gaining traction across the country.

“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. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward.

“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. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries. Nigerians across the country are suffering under this government, and they deserve a leader with a credible plan to make life affordable again.

“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. 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 said. 

The former vice-president also questioned the legal basis of the ruling, pointing to an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman of the same High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.

According to him, the court had dismissed a previous challenge to the Mark-led ADC leadership after upholding objections relating to jurisdiction, the plaintiff’s legal standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.

He argued that filing another suit to challenge the same leadership dispute amounted to an attempt to circumvent an existing court decision.

“Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had already dismissed the challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025. The court upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and the failure to exhaust internal party remedies, and resolved the substantive issues in their favour. 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.”

Atiku said his legal team would challenge Thursday’s judgment at the Court of Appeal.

He also urged ADC supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that the ruling would not derail the party’s campaign activities.

Atiku said the campaign would proceed to Kebbi State and other parts of the country, with its central message focused on reducing the cost of living and improving Nigerians’ economic conditions.

He called on supporters to continue mobilising voters through door-to-door campaigns, adding that the party remained committed to its promise of making life more affordable.

“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis. We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking.”