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’

ADC Heads to Appeal, Insists Mark, Aregbesola Remain Party Leaders Despite Court Ruling

The battle for the soul of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated yesterday as the party rejected a Federal High Court judgment sacking its Senator David Mark-led leadership, declaring that Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, remain its recognised leaders pending an appeal.

The ruling, which has thrown fresh uncertainty into the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, also invalidated decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.

However, the ADC vowed to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, while Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating a plot to weaken the opposition ahead of the polls.

The decision by Justice Peter Lifu has triggered sharp reactions across the political landscape, with Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, urging the judiciary to protect democratic competition, while the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) alleged a plot to impose a one-party state.

Conversely, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, welcomed the judgment, describing it as justice well served.

The ruling came barely 24 hours after Atiku held a campaign rally in Sokoto State, where thousands of supporters reportedly turned out to welcome him as he began mobilising for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, whose name had already been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the ADC presidential candidate, had also selected former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

Court upholds Gombe’s suit

Justice Lifu delivered the judgment in a suit filed by Nafiu Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.

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

He consequently asked the court to nullify the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

Upholding the plaintiff’s claims, the court declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal and invalidated its actions.

The decision effectively nullified the process through which the committee organised the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the ADC candidate.

The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, confirmed that the ADC would appeal the judgment.

Atiku alleges political conspiracy

Reacting through his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the judgment as a calculated attempt to frustrate his presidential ambition and weaken the ADC’s growing political influence.

He questioned the timing of the ruling, particularly its delivery shortly after the Sokoto rally, alleging that it was designed to disrupt the party’s mobilisation and undermine its support base in the North.

Atiku, however, insisted that the development would not derail his ambition, declaring that his campaign was a national movement rather than a regional project.

He also cited an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which he said had addressed the leadership dispute.

Describing the latest proceedings as an attempt to reopen an already determined matter, he said the ADC would challenge the decision at the appellate court.

ADC insists Mark, Aregbesola remain leaders

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council, through its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, maintained that the latest ruling could not automatically override an earlier judgment by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

It recalled that Justice Liman had examined the leadership dispute and upheld the transfer of leadership from Nwosu to Mark.

According to the council, the July 2, 2025 stakeholders’ meeting preceded the party’s July 29, 2025 National Executive Council meeting, where Mark and Aregbesola emerged as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, under the monitoring of INEC.

The council said its legal team was already pursuing appropriate interim reliefs, including a stay of execution where applicable, ahead of an appeal.

It urged party members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the legal battle would not stop its campaign.

Opposition raises alarm

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the APC of deploying the judiciary to undermine opposition parties, warning that the dispute concerned Nigerians’ democratic right to choose their leaders.

Similarly, Obi said although he respected the authority of the courts, uncertainty surrounding political parties and candidates close to an election could undermine the electoral process.

CUPP also condemned the ruling, alleging that it formed part of a wider attempt to weaken opposition parties and impose a one-party state.

But Keyamo dismissed allegations of political interference, arguing that the judgment was based on facts and evidence rather than political sentiments.

Meanwhile, NDC senatorial candidate for Kogi East, Chief Peter Ameh, cautioned opposition politicians against celebrating the development, warning that divisions among opposition parties could ultimately benefit the APC.

He urged opposition leaders to recognise that weakening one political platform could create a precedent capable of affecting others.

BREAKING: Court Sacks David Mark-Led ADC Exco, Nullifies Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Candidacy