2027: Abati Takes On Keyamo Over Atiku, ADC Court Judgment, Says ‘Stop Celebrating’

2027: Abati Takes On Keyamo Over Atiku, ADC Court Judgment, Says ‘Stop Celebrating’

 

 

 

ABUJA — Veteran journalist and Arise Television presenter, Dr Reuben Abati, has taken a swipe at the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over his celebration of the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and invalidated the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

 

Abati, who spoke on Friday during Arise Television’s Morning Show, cautioned Keyamo against celebrating what he described as an unresolved legal battle, insisting that the ADC leadership and Atiku’s supporters still have the opportunity to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

 

“Stop celebrating, Keyamo. The matter is not over yet. They will go to the Appeal Court,” Abati declared.

 

The journalist’s intervention followed Keyamo’s reaction to Thursday’s judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

The court had ruled against the caretaker leadership of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark, declaring its emergence illegal and setting aside decisions taken under its leadership, including the party primary that produced Atiku as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

 

Reacting to the judgment, Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had criticised opposition figures accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of influencing the judiciary.

 

In a post on his official X account, the minister described as a warped argument the suggestion that whenever an opposition party loses a court case, the ruling party must be responsible.

 

Keyamo argued that the court’s decision was based on facts and evidence rather than political sentiments, insisting that the Mark-led leadership could not take control of a party without complying with its constitutional provisions.

 

However, Abati questioned the minister’s enthusiasm in celebrating a judgment that remains subject to appellate review.

 

According to the former presidential spokesman, the concerns being raised by Nigerians are not necessarily about the right of the court to determine disputes but the timing, circumstances and public reactions surrounding judgments that affect opposition parties.

 

He maintained that the legal process had not reached its conclusion, noting that the Court of Appeal could still examine several issues surrounding the judgment.

 

Abati specifically identified questions bordering on procedure, timing, technicalities and the admissibility of evidence as matters that could feature prominently in the appeal.

 

He also questioned why a serving minister whose official responsibilities have little connection with electoral politics would become one of the loudest voices celebrating a judgment that effectively knocks out an opposition presidential candidate.

 

The Arise Television presenter warned that such public celebrations could fuel suspicions about the relationship between political power and judicial decisions, even as he cautioned against jumping to conclusions about external interference in the judiciary.

 

The controversy stems from a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership assumed control of the party.

 

Bala argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

 

Justice Lifu subsequently ruled against the Mark-led leadership and invalidated its decisions, including the process that produced Atiku as the ADC’s presidential flagbearer.

 

The ruling has created fresh uncertainty around the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, particularly as Atiku had already commenced political mobilisation following his emergence as the party’s candidate.

 

Meanwhile, Atiku and the ADC have rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.

 

Atiku’s camp has also indicated plans to seek appropriate legal relief, including a stay of execution where applicable, while pursuing the appeal.

 

The former vice president has described the development as an attempt to frustrate his presidential ambition, while the ADC has questioned the circumstances surrounding the judgment.

 

The emerging confrontation between Abati and Keyamo has added another dimension to the political controversy, with the 2027 presidential election gradually becoming a battleground for legal arguments, political accusations and competing interpretations of judicial decisions.

 

For now, the fate of Atiku’s ADC presidential ticket and the party’s leadership structure remains a major legal and political issue.

 

Whether the Court of Appeal will uphold or overturn Justice Lifu’s decision is expected to play a significant role in determining the next chapter of the ADC crisis and Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition.

 

2027: Abati Takes On Keyamo Over Atiku, ADC Court Judgment, Says ‘Stop Celebrating’