Court Judgement Against ADC Triggered By Panic, Says Atiku

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has described Thursday’s court judgment seeking to remove Senator David Mark as the party’s National Chairman as a desperate attempt by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the opposition and frustrate his presidential ambition.

Atiku, who declared that “the panic is real”, stated in a post on his X handle that the judgment was deliberately timed to undermine the momentum generated by the massive turnout at the ADC campaign launch in Sokoto on Wednesday.

The former vice president said the Sokoto rally demonstrated growing public support for his presidential bid and the party’s promise to tackle the worsening cost-of-living crisis.

“The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning,” he said, adding that Kebbi and other states would witness similar enthusiasm.

Atiku dismissed suggestions that his political strength was limited to Northern Nigeria, insisting that his candidacy had national appeal because hunger and economic hardship affected Nigerians across regional boundaries.

“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North,” he said.

He alleged that the judgment was part of a broader strategy to weaken his support base and disrupt a campaign whose message was gaining traction nationwide. Atiku, however, insisted that the ruling party had underestimated the strength of the opposition movement.

The former vice president also questioned the legal basis of the judgment, recalling that Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court had previously dismissed a challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 on grounds bordering on jurisdiction, locus standi and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.

He wondered why another suit was instituted to reopen the same dispute despite the earlier ruling, describing the development as an attempt to circumvent an existing judgment. He said the ADC would challenge the latest decision at the Court of Appeal.

Atiku urged party members and supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, insisting that the judgment would not derail the campaign. “Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis. There is no shaking,” he declared.