ADC Leaders Warn Atiku to End Presidential Campaign

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) zonal leaders, led by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, have issued a warning to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, demanding that he stop presenting himself as the party's presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections. This warning follows a meeting of the party's six zonal leaders, who reaffirmed their support for Bala Gombe and passed a vote of confidence in his leadership.

The leaders maintained that Bala Gombe remained the authentic and subsisting leadership of the party following a Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on November 5, 2026. The judgment invalidated the leadership structure that supervised Atiku's emergence as the ADC flag bearer. The zonal leaders argued that decisions taken under the affected leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the party's flag bearer, could not be treated as legally valid while the judgment remained subsisting.

The zonal leaders, in a communiqué signed by Dr Christopher O. Okechukwu, Director of Media and Public Affairs, called on Atiku to immediately withdraw from activities suggesting that he was the recognised presidential candidate of the party. They also warned Atiku against taking steps that could undermine the court's authority, the leadership of Bala Gombe, and the unity of the ADC.

According to the communiqué, the judgment remained in force because it had not been overturned, suspended, or set aside by a superior court. The zonal leaders insisted that Atiku's continued campaign, public presentations, and parading of himself as the ADC presidential candidate amounted to an outright violation of the subsisting court order and declaration contained in the judgment of Hon. Justice Lifu.

The group further demanded that Atiku suspend all campaign-related activities carried out in the name of the ADC presidential ticket. They threatened to pursue legal action if Atiku failed to comply with their demands, considering all available legal options, including contempt proceedings and other civil and criminal processes permitted under the law.

The zonal leaders maintained that the matter went beyond internal disagreements within the opposition party, arguing that all political actors were expected to respect decisions issued by courts of competent jurisdiction. They warned that Atiku's continued activities could deepen the existing divisions within the party and create further uncertainty over its leadership and preparations for the 2027 elections.

The party leaders emphasized that the law must be obeyed and the judgment must be respected, adding that they would not stand by while its name, platform, and processes were used in defiance of a court of law. They urged Atiku to desist immediately from parading himself as the presidential candidate of the ADC, cease all campaign activities, and refrain from any act capable of undermining the authority of the Court, the leadership of Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, and the unity of the Party.

Key points

• The ADC zonal leaders have warned Atiku Abubakar to stop presenting himself as the party's presidential candidate, citing a court judgment that invalidated the leadership structure that supervised his emergence.
• The warning was issued after a meeting of the party's six zonal leaders, who reaffirmed their support for Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and passed a vote of confidence in his leadership.
• The zonal leaders threatened to pursue legal action if Atiku failed to comply with their demands, considering all available legal options, including contempt proceedings and other civil and criminal processes permitted under the law.