Keyamo praises Atiku for respecting court order nullifying ADC candidacy

Abdullateef Fowewe

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has thanked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for complying with a recent Federal High Court ruling that disqualified him as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

In a post on X on Friday, Keyamo quoted Atiku’s statement and wrote, “Thank you, your Excellency @atiku, for not disobeying the court order disqualifying you as Presidential Candidate of the ADC. You signed off this statement very well, simply as former Vice-President (and not Candidate of ADC).

“That is how a Statesman should behave and respect the Rule of Law. Be properly guided.”

Atiku’s statement, issued earlier on Friday from Sokoto, pushed back against the court decision.

He insisted the opposition remains on the ballot and accused the government of using legal tactics to weaken rivals.

He said, “Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people.

“We are on the ballot, and the people must be allowed to decide.”

He added, “Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box,” while criticising economic hardships including the removal of fuel subsidy, the decline of the naira, rising food prices, and insecurity.

Atiku signed the message as “Vice President of Nigeria, 1999–2007.”

On Thursday, 5 November 2026, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC and all actions taken under it.

This included the primary that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate with Rotimi Amaechi as running mate and the nominations of other candidates for the January 2027 general elections.

The suit was brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party.

He argued that the Mark-led structure, which emerged after the resignation of previous National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, violated the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

The court agreed and voided the leadership’s decisions.

The ruling has created uncertainty for the opposition party less than three months before the presidential election.

ADC leaders and Atiku’s campaign have rejected the judgment, describing it as an attempt to cripple the opposition, and vowed to appeal.

They have continued campaign activities. The case also sits alongside an earlier conflicting Federal High Court decision in July 2026 that had upheld the Mark-led leadership.