By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned a Federal High Court judgment reportedly challenging 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 ambition.
Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate, alleged that the timing of the judgment was politically significant, coming barely 24 hours after a large crowd welcomed him to Sokoto State during the launch of his campaign.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku maintained that the ruling would not derail his campaign or diminish the growing support for his candidacy across the country.
He said the massive turnout in Sokoto reflected Nigerians’ desire for political change and their yearning for relief from the prevailing economic hardship.
“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, who emphasised that his political ambition transcended regional considerations, said the economic challenges confronting Nigerians were not restricted to any particular part of the country.
“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,” he stated.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to weaken his political support in the North and undermine a campaign he claimed was gaining traction nationwide.
According to him, the ruling party was mistaken if it believed his political support was confined to the northern region, insisting that his campaign represented a national movement.
The former vice president also questioned the legal basis of the judgment, citing an earlier decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, in which Justice Musa Liman reportedly dismissed a challenge to the David Mark-led ADC leadership.
Atiku said the earlier judgment upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, locus standi and failure to exhaust the party’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms, while also resolving the substantive issues in their favour.
He questioned why another case was instituted to reopen the same leadership dispute after the earlier decision, describing the development as an attempt to circumvent an existing court judgment.
“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 declared.
Atiku, however, urged ADC members and supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, warning against allowing the court ruling to distract them from the party’s political activities.
He disclosed that the campaign train had already moved to Kebbi State and would proceed to other parts of the country despite the legal development.
Reaffirming his commitment to what he described as the mission to rescue Nigeria from economic hardship under the APC administration, Atiku said the ADC’s Affordable Life campaign would continue to focus on addressing the rising cost of living.
“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,” he said.
He called on supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation through house-to-house and door-to-door campaigns while maintaining peace and discipline.
“There is no shaking,” Atiku added.
