Appeal Court judgment won’t stop my 2027 ambition — Atiku heads to Supreme Court

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has announced plans to challenge the recent Court of Appeal judgment at the Supreme Court, insisting that his 2027 presidential ambition remains unaffected by the ruling.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Monday in Abuja, Atiku urged ADC members and supporters to remain calm, focused and confident in the judicial process.

According to him, contrary to claims circulating in some quarters, the Court of Appeal did not invalidate the party’s presidential primary or the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general election.

“Those celebrating today should celebrate with caution. Those attempting to sell false hope to their supporters should remember that political propaganda can never substitute for judicial pronouncements,” he said.

Atiku explained that the appellate court’s judgment was limited to issues relating to the conduct of ADC state congresses and the tenure of the party’s State Executive Committees, stressing that it had no bearing on the validity of the party’s primary elections.

“There is a world of legal difference between the election of party executives through internal congresses and the nomination of candidates through statutory primary elections. They are distinct legal exercises, governed by different legal principles and serving different constitutional purposes. One should not be confused with the other,” he stated.

He argued that courts are bound to determine only the issues brought before them, describing attempts to extend the judgment beyond its scope as legally untenable.

Atiku also accused his political opponents of misrepresenting the judgment for political advantage, insisting that Nigeria operates under the rule of law, not public opinion or social media narratives.

He disclosed that his legal team had been instructed to approach the Supreme Court to seek a definitive interpretation of the issues arising from the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Reaffirming his confidence in the judiciary, the former Vice President said pursuing the matter before the apex court remains the appropriate constitutional avenue.

“Let no supporter of the ADC lose sleep. Let no Nigerian who believes in the restoration of our country be discouraged. The struggle to rescue Nigeria has never been about one courtroom or one judgment.

“The road to 2027 remains open, and the resolve of the Nigerian people cannot be overturned by propaganda. Our destination remains unchanged, and by the grace of God and the will of the Nigerian people, we shall arrive,” he said.

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