Atiku Abubakar, former Nigeria’s vice president, has vowed to remain in the 2027 presidential race despite a Federal High Court ruling that nullified his nomination by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using political pressure and legal manoeuvres to weaken the opposition.
Atiku, who described the judgment as an attempt to undermine the democratic rights of Nigerians, insisted that he would remain on the ballot and urged supporters not to be discouraged by the ruling.
“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,” he said in a statement on Friday.
The former vice president’s comments came a day after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the Senator David Mark-led ADC National Working Committee and the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its candidate for the January 2027 election.
The ruling followed a legal challenge by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former national deputy chairman (North-East), who argued that the caretaker leadership was constituted in violation of the ADC constitution.
The court held that the leadership arrangement and actions taken under it, including Atiku’s nomination, were invalid. The ADC has rejected the judgment and said it would challenge it through available judicial processes.
Atiku accused the ruling party of deploying political pressure, courtroom manoeuvres and misinformation to frustrate opposition participation, arguing that the latest legal challenge was part of a broader effort to weaken competing political voices.
“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 said.
“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 said the developments were aimed at making genuine political competition impossible and pushing Nigeria towards a one-party state.
The former vice president also criticised Tinubu’s economic policies, citing the removal of fuel subsidy, the depreciation of the naira, rising food prices and the closure of factories and small businesses as evidence of the administration’s record.
He said the economic difficulties had worsened living conditions for households, while insecurity continued to threaten communities.
“What record do they have to defend? This government removed the fuel subsidy overnight without a plan to protect Nigerians. It presided over the steep decline of the naira and allowed food prices to rise beyond the reach of ordinary families. Factories and small businesses have shut their doors,” Atiku said.
He added that young Nigerians were leaving the country in search of opportunities, while banditry and kidnapping continued to affect communities.
Atiku urged Nigerians to remain united and participate in the electoral process, saying the opposition would continue to campaign on the cost of living and economic hardship.
“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.
The ADC presidential candidate said his campaign would resist attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state and called on the ruling party to face voters in a free and credible election.
“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.
Atiku concluded by accusing Tinubu of seeking to avoid electoral accountability through the courts.
“Let me say this plainly: Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box.”
The latest ruling has thrown the ADC’s presidential candidacy into uncertainty, with the party expected to pursue an appeal while the electoral commission faces questions over the legal status of its candidate.
The dispute comes as the opposition seeks to consolidate its challenge to Tinubu, whose re-election campaign is unfolding amid economic hardship and divisions among opposition parties.
Taofeek Oyedokun is a correspondent at BusinessDay with years of experience reporting on political economy, public policy, migration, environment/climate change, and social justice. A graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos, he has also earned multiple professional certificates in journalism and media-related training. Known for his clear, data-driven reporting, Oyedokun covers a wide range of national and international socioeconomic issues, bringing depth, balance, and public-interest focus to his work.
