Politics
Appeal Court Clears ADC for 2027 Polls, Atiku’s Camp Declares Major Democracy Victory
The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed Tuesday’s Court of Appeal judgment setting aside a Federal High Court ruling that sought the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, describing the decision as a significant victory for democracy and the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Atiku Media Office, the former presidential candidate’s camp said the appellate court’s ruling had effectively removed every legal obstacle that could have hindered the ADC’s participation in the next general elections.
According to the statement, the latest judgment, alongside an earlier Federal High Court ruling affirming the leadership of the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC, has resolved all pending legal disputes over the party’s status and leadership.
SEE ALSO: 2027 Race: Rivers ADC Unveils David Okumgba as Deputy Gov Candidate
“With this Court of Appeal judgment validating the legal status of ADC plus the judgment of Hon. Justice Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, affirming the election of the Senator David Mark-led executive of ADC, the leading opposition party has finally navigated its way to the ballot for the 2027 general elections as there’s no suit pending that challenges its leadership again,” the statement said.
The Atiku Media Office described the judgment as a landmark ruling that reaffirmed the role of the judiciary in protecting Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
“We warmly welcome the landmark judgment of the Court of Appeal, which set aside the erroneous judgment of the Federal High Court that sought to remove the African Democratic Congress (and other political parties) from Nigeria’s democratic space,” it stated.
It further commended the appellate court justices for what it described as their courage and commitment to justice.
“We congratulate the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal for their courage, fidelity to the Constitution and unwavering commitment to justice. Their judgment is a reassuring affirmation that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and the ultimate guardian of constitutional democracy.”
According to the statement, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal High Court’s judgment was a nullity because it was delivered despite a subsisting order of the appellate court. It also held that the respondents lacked the legal standing to institute the suit and that their claims were speculative and legally unsustainable.
The media office further disclosed that the appellate court clarified the interpretation of Section 225A of the Constitution, holding that the provision should be interpreted disjunctively rather than conjunctively.
It also noted that the court found the suit to have been filed prematurely since the Osun and Ekiti election cycles were still ongoing at the time.
The statement added that the appellate court faulted the trial court for ignoring affidavit evidence submitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which confirmed that the ADC and the other affected political parties had complied with constitutional and statutory requirements.
“Having accepted INEC’s evidence, the lower court had no legal basis to manufacture additional conditions in order to arrive at what the Court of Appeal rightly described as a perverse decision,” the statement said.
Describing the verdict as one that extends beyond the fortunes of the ADC, the Atiku Media Office argued that the judgment strengthens Nigeria’s democracy by safeguarding political pluralism and protecting the right of citizens to freely choose among competing political parties.
“This judgment is far more than a legal victory for the ADC. It is a victory for every Nigerian who believes that democracy must be nurtured through free political competition rather than strangled through speculative litigation,” it added.
The statement also cautioned against attempts to use the judiciary and other state institutions to weaken political opponents ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We urge anti-democratic forces to resist the dangerous temptation of using the courts and other institutions of the state as instruments of political engineering. The judiciary must never be transformed into a battlefield for eliminating political competitors or shrinking the democratic space.
“It maintained that political contests should ultimately be decided by the electorate rather than through prolonged litigation.
The Court of Appeal’s judgment comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ADC emerging as a major opposition platform following the alignment of prominent politicians, including Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark.
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State has called on Governor Francis Nwifuru to apologise to residents or resign over his recent comments concerning the 2027 general elections.
The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Darlington Peter-Onwe, made the demand during a live radio programme on Friday, describing the governor’s remarks as capable of stoking political violence ahead of the elections.
Peter-Onwe was reacting to Nwifuru’s directive to newly sworn-in local government chairmen to ensure that the All Progressives Congress wins their respective councils in the 2027 elections or risk being removed from office.
SEE MORE: 2027: Massive Turnout as Adebutu, Iyabo Obasanjo Kick Off PDP Campaign in Ogun
“The Governor should apologise to Ebonyians or resign. He should retract the statement or step down because he has violated the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy,” Peter-Onwe stated.
“Section 14 of the Constitution explicitly provides that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. By making such statements, he is now the one insinuating violence.”
The PDP’s reaction followed comments made by Nwifuru during the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected local government chairmen and their deputies in Abakaliki on Tuesday.
While dismissing allegations of harassment and intimidation of political critics by APC members and supporters, the governor warned opposition politicians that they would “see real threats at the right time.”
Nwifuru also charged the council chairmen to ensure that the opposition does not win their respective local government areas in 2027.
“You must not allow the opposition to win in your respective local government councils during the 2027 general elections,” the governor told the chairmen.
“Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office.
“We will use your councillor and remove you.
“If you allow anybody to come to your Local Government council and mess up, deal with that person mercilessly.”
The governor further said he deliberately made the remarks publicly because politicians do not speak in secret.
“I want this information to make the headlines because, as politicians, we do not speak in secret,” he said.
Reacting further, Peter-Onwe compared Nwifuru’s approach with that of Abia State Governor Alex Otti, whom he described as an example of leadership accountability.
“Look at what Governor Alex Otti did when there was a disruption in the education sector. He came out openly and apologised, admitting that it shouldn’t have happened.
That is the true strength of a leader,” he added.
The PDP spokesperson also alleged that the governor’s comments had contributed to hostility against opposition members and media practitioners in the state.
The development comes amid growing political activities and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
engagement
Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the perception that former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, does not spend money in pursuit of political office.
Olayinka alleged that Obi gave money to delegates while seeking the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general election.
ALSO READ: Peter Obi Demands Tinubu’s Resignation, Says Governance Has Collapsed
He made the allegation during an appearance on AIT’s Democracy Today programme on Friday, while responding to a question on whether politics was a business for Wike.
According to Olayinka, politicians should stop pretending that money does not play a role in Nigerian politics, arguing that candidates routinely spend money during consultations, party primaries and election campaigns.
“One of the issues with most of us Nigerians, we like to pretend, politics is business. Don’t let us pretend. It’s a service but you can only serve when you get to power,” he said.
Olayinka, who said he contested a House of Representatives seat in 2023, noted that spending money was also part of the political process at the primary election stage.
“Why do politicians spend money? Will anybody tell me why politicians in this country, even outside Nigeria, in US, everywhere; don’t they spend money to campaign? They spend money to seek election,” he said.
Speaking specifically about Obi, Olayinka rejected the narrative that the former governor does not give money during political engagements.
“For instance, we have read that the candidate of NDC, Peter Obi, does not spend shishi. It’s a lie,” Olayinka said.
He claimed to have personally witnessed Obi distributing money to delegates when he was still seeking the PDP presidential ticket.
“I was a delegate in Ekiti when he was in PDP before going to Labour Party. He came to Ekiti. He dropped money for delegates. From the money he dropped, they gave me my own in 2022,” he said.
Olayinka, however, acknowledged that the amount Obi allegedly gave may have been smaller than what some other presidential aspirants offered.
“The money might be smaller than what other people gave, but he gave money,” he said.
Obi later left the PDP and contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party.
Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Obi has moved to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), while several opposition figures continue to position themselves for another challenge against President Bola Tinubu.
Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has warned that Peter Obi may not be able to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election if he contests without a broader opposition alliance.
Okonkwo made the statement during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media, amid renewed efforts by opposition figures to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, a united opposition front remains the only realistic strategy for defeating Tinubu at the polls.
ALSO READ: Presidency Clears Air on Tinubu’s US Court Case
He argued that Obi would face difficulties securing enough support in Northern Nigeria if he chooses to contest against Tinubu alone.
“Coalition is the only way out,” Okonkwo said, while referring to Tinubu’s political approach and his previous comments about the nature of political power.
He further dismissed the possibility of Obi defeating Tinubu on his own, even if former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso joins him as running mate.
“So, if Peter Obi goes against Tinubu alone, Tinubu will eat him like biscuits,” Okonkwo said.
He questioned whether Obi would receive sufficient support in Kano, noting that the former Anambra State governor did not secure the state in the 2023 presidential election.
“Will Kano people accept Peter Obi? In 2023, when we had the opportunity, they did not accept him. In 2027, they will not accept him,” he added.
Okonkwo also played down Kwankwaso’s political influence, claiming that the former Kano governor had lost some of his strength, including in his home state.
“Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost,” he said.
His comments come as opposition politicians continue discussions over the possibility of forming a coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
‘Please Help Me Report Them’ – Ruth Kadiri Cries Out Over Viral Death Rumour
WAEP Targets 24-Month Production Surge, Gas Monetisation to Unlock 1.6bn Barrels
Adeleke Jets Out on Vacation, Orders Probe into Koka Obaship Dispute
President Faye Commends Sahara’s Commitment to Senegal’s Energy Security
DPRP Set for Landmark IPO to Raise ₦2.15 Trillion
Why Fuel Prices Remain Volatile — NMDPRA
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
