Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that Nigeria’s 2027 general election must be decided at the ballot box rather than in the courtroom, following the Court of Appeal’s decision on Tuesday, July 28, overturning a Federal High Court judgment that sought to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties from the country’s democratic space.
The appellate ruling clears the legal hurdles facing the ADC’s leadership structure, enabling the party to concentrate on its preparations for the 2027 general elections without ongoing court battles.
In a statement released through his media office, Atiku commended the Justices of the Court of Appeal for their courage, adherence to the Constitution, and commitment to justice, noting that the decision restores public trust in the judiciary and fortifies constitutional democracy.
“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.”
The statement indicated that the Court of Appeal’s ruling, together with a prior judgment by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirming the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC, effectively terminates all legal disputes surrounding the party’s leadership. Consequently, the decisions firmly establish the ADC’s legal eligibility to participate in upcoming elections.
The appellate court determined that the judgment delivered on June 15 by Justice Lifu was a nullity because it was rendered in violation of a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal. The panel further ruled that the respondents lacked the locus standi to initiate the suit, characterizing their claims as speculative and legally unsustainable.
Additionally, the Court of Appeal clarified that Section 225A of the Constitution should be read disjunctively rather than conjunctively, concluding that the original suit was premature because electoral cycles in Osun and Ekiti states were still ongoing when the matter was instituted.
Atiku pointed out that the appellate court faulted the trial court for ignoring the uncontradicted affidavit evidence submitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which confirmed that the ADC and other affected political parties had fulfilled all statutory and constitutional 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.”
Describing the outcome as a triumph that extends beyond any individual political platform, Atiku emphasized that the judgment represents a win for the rule of law, constitutional democracy, and every citizen who supports 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.”