Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has vowed not to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race despite a Federal High Court judgment invalidating the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark.
Atiku insisted that he remained committed to the contest, declaring that neither the court ruling nor alleged political manoeuvres would force him to abandon his presidential ambition.
In a statement issued on Friday, the former vice president urged Nigerians not to mistake the court judgment for the will of the electorate, insisting that the people must be allowed to determine their political future.
He said, “Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people. No manipulation, conjecture or concoction can erase our place in this contest, silence our campaign or deny Nigerians the right to choose their future. We are on the ballot, and the people must be allowed to decide.”
The ADC presidential hopeful accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deploying political pressure, courtroom manoeuvres and other tactics to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also alleged attempts to compromise the voters’ register through the inclusion of AI-generated photographs, false names and fictitious identities.
Atiku said the ruling party should have no reason to fear a credible election if it was confident in its political strength and performance.
“Those who boast of having thirty-two governors and claim to have bought, pressured or coerced leaders from other parties into their fold should have no reason to fear a free and fair contest,” he stated.
He added, “Yet, instead of presenting their record to Nigerians, they continue to deploy every tactic available to weaken the opposition: political pressure, manufactured narratives, courtroom manoeuvres and attempts to compromise the voters’ register with AI-generated photographs, false names and fictitious identities.”
Atiku described the alleged actions as calculated attempts to undermine democratic competition and push Nigeria towards a one-party state.
“These are not the actions of people confident in their record. They are calculated attempts to make genuine competition impossible and push Nigeria towards a one-party state,” he said.
The former vice president also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the removal of fuel subsidy, the depreciation of the naira, rising food prices and the closure of factories and small businesses.
He further accused the government of failing to address insecurity, lamenting that young Nigerians were leaving the country in search of better opportunities while bandits and kidnappers continued to terrorise communities.
Atiku painted a picture of the economic difficulties facing ordinary Nigerians, saying the rising cost of living had made survival increasingly difficult for many households.
“Look around you. Market stalls stand empty. Feeding your family has become a daily struggle. Fuel prices keep rising, and silent pain fills homes across the country,” he stated.
He accused those in power of attempting to make Nigerians surrender their political rights because of the prevailing hardship.
“Those in power may want you to believe that your suffering does not matter. They may want you to surrender your future before you even reach the ballot box. Do not lose heart. Do not retreat. Your vote is your power, and together, we will take our country back,” he added.
Reaffirming his determination to remain in the presidential race, Atiku declared that he would not abandon his supporters despite the legal challenge confronting the ADC.
“Let me be clear to every Nigerian who has stood with us: I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot. No threat, blackmail or court manoeuvre will make me abandon you or the cause we share,” he said.
He also vowed that his campaign would resist attempts to establish a one-party state in Nigeria.
“We will resist with all our strength every attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. Nigeria belongs to all its people. Our democracy must remain open to more than one party and more than one voice,” Atiku stated.
He challenged the ruling party to test its popularity at the polls rather than rely on political and legal manoeuvres.
“If those in power believe in their numbers and their record, let us meet at the polls in a free, fair and credible contest,” he added.
Atiku maintained that the court judgment would not derail his campaign or distract him from addressing the economic challenges confronting Nigerians.
“Our campaign will continue. Our message on the cost of living will not be silenced or derailed. Stay calm, united and resolute. Together, we will fight for a Nigeria where life is affordable and every citizen’s vote counts,” he said.
Taking a direct swipe at Tinubu, the former vice president declared: “Let me say this plainly: Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box.”
The development followed Thursday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC illegal and invalidated all actions taken by the committee on behalf of the party.
Politics Nigeria reports that the judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was qualified to assume the party’s leadership.
