Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said Nigeria’s 2027 general election should be determined by the will of the electorate at the ballot box rather than through prolonged legal battles.
Atiku made the statement after the Court of Appeal overturned a Federal High Court judgment that had sought to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and several other political parties from Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, Atiku described the appellate court’s decision as a significant victory for constitutional democracy and the rule of law. He praised the justices for what he called their commitment to justice and constitutional principles.
«”As the nation advances towards the 2027 general elections, political contests must be decided by the votes of Nigerians, not by contrived lawsuits seeking to achieve in the courtroom what cannot be won at the ballot box,” Atiku said.»
According to the former vice president, the Court of Appeal’s judgment, together with an earlier ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja recognizing the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC, has effectively resolved the legal disputes surrounding the party’s leadership.
He said the decisions have cleared the way for the ADC to focus fully on preparations for the 2027 general elections without the distraction of ongoing litigation.
The Court of Appeal held that the June 15 judgment delivered by Justice Lifu was a nullity because it was issued despite an existing order of the appellate court. The panel also ruled that those who instituted the suit lacked the legal standing to do so, describing their claims as speculative and without legal merit.
The appellate court further held that Section 225A of the Constitution should be interpreted disjunctively rather than conjunctively. It also found that the suit was filed prematurely since the electoral processes in Osun and Ekiti states were still underway at the time the action was instituted.
Atiku also noted that the appellate court criticized the lower court for disregarding affidavit evidence presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which confirmed that the ADC and the other affected political parties had complied with all 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,” he stated.»
The former presidential candidate maintained that the judgment goes beyond the interests of a single political party, insisting that it strengthens Nigeria’s democratic system and reinforces citizens’ right to freely choose their leaders.
“The strength of a democracy lies not in the exclusion of political opponents but in allowing the people to freely determine their leaders through the ballot,” Atiku added.
He expressed optimism that with the legal uncertainties resolved, political parties can now concentrate on engaging voters ahead of the 2027 general elections rather than contesting their participation through the courts.
