Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the Court of Appeal’s decision clearing the way for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to participate in the 2027 general elections, insisting that political victories must come through voters’ choices rather than courtroom manoeuvres.
Atiku, in a statement issued by his media office in Abuja on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, praised the appellate court judges for what he described as their courage, commitment to constitutional principles and dedication to justice.
The presidential candidate said the judgment, which overturned a Federal High Court decision seeking to deregister the ADC and other political parties, had restored confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary and strengthened democratic institutions.
“As the nation advances towards the 2027 general elections, political contests must be decided by the votes of Nigerians – not by contrived lawsuits seeking to achieve in the courtroom what cannot be won at the ballot box,” Atiku said.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling effectively removed the legal obstacles facing the ADC, allowing the Party to focus on preparations for the 2027 elections without prolonged legal disputes.
According to Atiku, the latest judgment, alongside an earlier decision by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja recognising the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC, has settled the disputes surrounding the Party’s leadership ahead of the election.
He said the development confirms the ADC’s legal status and eligibility to participate in the 2027 polls.
The statement noted that the Court of Appeal declared the June 15 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu a nullity because it was issued despite an existing order from the appellate court directing a stay of proceedings.
Atiku said the court also ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to file the suit and that their claims were speculative and unsupported by law.
He added that the appellate court clarified that Section 225A of the Constitution should be interpreted disjunctively rather than conjunctively, while ruling that the case was premature because electoral processes in Osun and Ekiti States were still ongoing when the action was instituted.
The former Vice President further stated that the court faulted the trial judge for ignoring unchallenged affidavit evidence from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which showed that the ADC and other affected political parties had met constitutional and legal requirements.
“Having accepted INEC’s evidence, the lower court had no legal basis to manufacture additional conditions in order to arrive at what the Court of Appeal rightly described as a perverse decision,” Atiku said.
Atiku described the judgment as a victory beyond the ADC, saying it represented a win for constitutional democracy, the rule of law and open political competition.
“The strength of a democracy lies not in the exclusion of political opponents but in allowing the people to freely determine their leaders through the ballot,” he stated.
He warned against using the judiciary and other government institutions as instruments for targeting political opponents, saying such actions could damage public confidence and weaken Nigeria’s democratic system.
“The judiciary must never be transformed into a battlefield for eliminating political competitors or shrinking the democratic space,” Atiku cautioned.
He, however, commended the Court of Appeal for what he called a courageous, impartial and constitutionally grounded decision, saying the ruling had reinforced confidence in justice and affirmed the supremacy of the rule of law over political interests.