ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that no court ruling or political pressure will force him to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition, insisting that Nigerians must be allowed to determine their next leader through a free and credible election.

Atiku made the declaration on Friday, November 6, in a statement issued from Sokoto, following a Federal High Court judgement that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark and invalidated decisions taken by the party's disputed national executive.

The judgement, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja, also affected the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the ADC's candidate for the 2027 general election.

Reacting to the decision, Atiku rejected suggestions that the legal setback would end his presidential campaign, maintaining that his supporters should remain confident despite the uncertainty surrounding his candidacy.

“I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot,” Atiku declared.

The former vice president accused President Bola Tinubu's administration of attempting to weaken opposition parties through political pressure and legal challenges, allegations the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied.

Atiku maintained that judicial proceedings should not be used to undermine political competition or prevent Nigerians from freely choosing their leaders.

He argued that the ruling should not be interpreted as a reflection of public opinion, insisting that voters should ultimately decide the country's political future.

The judgement followed a legal challenge instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the ADC, who disputed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led national executive.

Gombe argued that the leadership emerged through procedures that violated the party's constitution and internal guidelines.

Justice Lifu ruled that the process through which the disputed executive assumed office was unlawful and consequently invalidated decisions taken under its leadership, including the presidential nomination process.

The decision has created fresh uncertainty over the ADC's participation in the presidential election, particularly as the party had already commenced campaign activities in different parts of the country.

Atiku, who served as Nigeria's vice president between 1999 and 2007, secured the ADC presidential ticket in May 2026 and has positioned himself as a major opposition figure ahead of the election.

His latest declaration followed campaign engagements in Sokoto, where he and other ADC leaders had addressed supporters on the country's economic and security challenges.

In his statement, Atiku accused the ruling party of encouraging political defections and attempting to weaken opposition structures ahead of the election.

He also alleged attempts to compromise the electoral register through artificial intelligence-generated images and fictitious identities, although he did not publicly present evidence substantiating those allegations in the statement.

The former vice president questioned why a governing party that claims widespread political support would be concerned about competing against opposition candidates in a credible election.

He warned against what he described as attempts to create a one-party political system, arguing that Nigeria's democracy required genuine competition among political parties.

Atiku also criticised the Tinubu administration's handling of the economy, citing the removal of petrol subsidies, depreciation of the naira, rising food prices and persistent insecurity.

According to him, the economic hardship confronting households and businesses reinforced the importance of allowing Nigerians to assess the government's performance through the electoral process.

He maintained that his campaign would continue focusing on the cost of living, employment opportunities, economic recovery and national security.

The former vice president urged his supporters to remain peaceful and united while the party pursued available legal remedies.

Meanwhile, the ADC has formally challenged the Federal High Court ruling and filed an application seeking a stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.

The party has also notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the legal proceedings, urging the electoral body to avoid taking steps that could affect the outcome of the appeal.

The application for a stay of execution had not been determined at the time of the latest reports, meaning Atiku's declaration that he would appear on the ballot remains a political commitment rather than confirmation that the legal questions surrounding his nomination have been resolved.

In a statement responding to the controversy, the APC rejected allegations that it influenced the court proceedings, insisting that the dispute arose from disagreements within the opposition party.

The ruling party's National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, maintained that the APC was neither a party to the case nor responsible for the internal leadership dispute.

He urged the ADC to address its disagreements through the judicial process rather than blame the governing party for an unfavourable ruling.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo also defended the importance of respecting judicial decisions, arguing that political candidates must accept the authority of the courts even when judgements affect their electoral ambitions.

Keyamo maintained that Nigeria's democratic institutions should not be undermined because of the political interests of individual candidates.

The competing positions have intensified debate over the implications of the judgement for the 2027 presidential election, particularly concerning party leadership disputes, candidate nominations and the role of electoral institutions.

Atiku was the runner-up in Nigeria's 2023 presidential election, which was won by Bola Tinubu, and his renewed ambition has placed him at the centre of opposition politics ahead of the next contest.

With the ADC pursuing an appeal, attention is expected to focus on subsequent court decisions and any action taken by INEC regarding the party's disputed nomination process.

For now, Atiku maintains that he will continue campaigning and challenging the legal obstacles confronting his presidential bid.

The former vice president reiterated that Nigeria's future should be determined through an open electoral contest, rather than political disagreements or attempts to exclude competing voices.

His latest declaration underscores the growing legal and political uncertainty surrounding the opposition's preparations for the 2027 general election, with the eventual status of his candidacy dependent on the outcome of the ongoing judicial process.

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