Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has voiced significant apprehension following a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the 2027 general elections. Obi warned that the ruling could foster considerable uncertainty among opposition parties, potentially undermining voters’ electoral choices in the crucial period leading up to the polls.
The contentious judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, specifically nullified the leadership of the ADC under former Senate President David Mark. Consequently, all decisions made during Mark’s tenure, including the process that produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential flag-bearer, were rendered void. The ruling also impacted other key appointments, such as former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola’s emergence as National Secretary, and other candidate nominations for the 2027 elections.
Obi’s Concerns and Allegations
Reacting via his verified X account on Thursday, Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, expressed profound shock and described the development as “unsettling and surprising.” While affirming his respect for the judiciary’s role in resolving disputes, Obi stressed the critical need for certainty in the electoral landscape. “My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty. It is not good to have too many uncertainties about candidates and parties a few weeks before a presidential election,” he wrote. He further argued that instability surrounding opposition parties could gravely affect the democratic process.
The former Anambra State governor went further to allege that the prevailing instability was being orchestrated by the ruling party. He drew parallels to the internal crises that had previously impacted his former political platform, the Labour Party, and accused the ruling party of employing similar tactics to restrict civic space and impede opposition campaigns.
Emphasizing fundamental democratic principles, Obi asserted, “One mark of democracy is that at all times, it is voters and not courts that choose leaders.” He reiterated his trust in the judiciary, recalling his own demonstrated respect as a public officer. Obi passionately appealed for the protection of democratic integrity, urging that opposition parties and their candidates not be undermined ahead of elections. He also referenced recent military takeovers in West African nations, stressing that Nigeria must reinforce its democratic institutions by safeguarding opposition politics against any attempts to “stamp out opposition parties.” He concluded by pledging that, if elected President, he would prioritize ensuring the stability of opposition parties and prevent their candidates from being persecuted out of electoral contests.
Political Realignment and Legal Basis
This judicial setback for Atiku comes amidst a significant period of political realignment leading up to the 2027 elections. Both Obi and Atiku were initially part of an ADC coalition in 2025, formed with the explicit aim of challenging President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. However, internal party issues led Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to depart the ADC in May 2026, subsequently joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where Obi emerged as its presidential candidate with Kwankwaso as his running mate. Atiku, meanwhile, had secured the ADC’s presidential ticket in May 2026, a process now invalidated by the court.
The suit that led to this judgment was initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman for the North-East. Gombe contested the procedure through which David Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party, asserting that he was constitutionally entitled to leadership following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu. The court ruled that the Mark-led leadership’s ascent violated the ADC constitution, along with pertinent provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution. Both the African Democratic Congress and Atiku Abubakar have since announced their intentions to appeal the Federal High Court’s decision.