Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned Thursday’s court judgment purporting to remove Senator David Mark’s leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a calculated attempt to weaken the party and frustrate his presidential candidacy.
Reacting to the ruling, Atiku declared that “the panic is real”, insisting that the timing of the judgment was no coincidence but part of a strategy to weaken his growing political support and frustrate his campaign.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the judgment came barely a day after thousands of people gathered in Sokoto to welcome him and attend the launch of the ADC campaign.
He maintained that the massive turnout in Sokoto reflected Nigerians’ desire for change and their belief in his promise to make life affordable again.
“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,” he said.
Atiku also dismissed suggestions that his presidential ambition was limited to Northern Nigeria, stressing that although his roots were in the region, his candidacy belonged to all Nigerians.
“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,” he stated.
Describing the timing of the judgment as suspicious, Atiku alleged that it was part of a strategy to weaken his support in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message was resonating across the country.
He insisted that the ruling party had miscalculated by assuming that his political support was restricted to Northern Nigeria.
“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 former vice president also raised serious legal concerns over the judgment, recalling that Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had previously dismissed the challenge to the David Mark led leadership of the ADC.
He identified the earlier case as Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, saying the court upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies. He added that the court also resolved the substantive issues in their favour.
Atiku questioned why another case was filed to reopen the same dispute after the earlier judgment had been delivered.
“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 development, Atiku urged ADC supporters to remain calm and law abiding, warning them not to allow the judgment to weaken the momentum generated during the Sokoto campaign activities.
He confirmed that the campaign train was already in Kebbi State and would continue its activities across the country.
Atiku maintained that the party’s Affordable Life campaign would go ahead, insisting that Nigerians deserved relief from the rising cost of living and the hardship facing the country.
He urged supporters to remain resolute and take the party’s message from house to house and door to door while maintaining peace and focus.
“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,” he said.
