Atiku Applauds Court Over Dismissal Of Suit Challenging ADC Leadership

Atiku Applauds Court Over Dismissal of Suit Challenging ADC Leadership Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has commended the Nigerian judiciary for demonstrating courage, independence, and fidelity to the Constitution following the dismissal of a suit challenging the leadership of the party. Reacting to Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Musa Liman, Atiku described the ruling as a victory not only for the ADC but also for constitutional democracy, party autonomy, and the rule of law. The court struck out the suit after holding that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, which it ruled concerned the internal affairs of the political party. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the judgment reaffirmed the long-established legal principle that political parties are governed by their constitutions and that internal disputes should first be resolved through mechanisms provided by the party. According to him, the court rightly held that the plaintiffs failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution process outlined in the ADC constitution and also failed to establish the legal standing required to invoke the court’s jurisdiction. Atiku praised Justice Liman for refusing to allow the judiciary to become, in his words, “an extension of partisan political warfare,” describing the judgment as a significant affirmation of judicial independence amid what he alleged were attempts by political actors to weaken the opposition through litigation. He maintained that the ruling reinforces confidence in the judiciary as the guardian of constitutional order and democratic principles, adding that the decision demonstrates the courts’ commitment to justice and the rule of law. The former vice president also reaffirmed that the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC emerged through a lawful and transparent process in line with the party’s constitution, insisting that no amount of litigation could invalidate that process. He urged party members to remain united, focused, and committed to building a credible political alternative for Nigerians, stressing that the judgment should serve as a call to strengthen democratic institutions rather than a reason for celebration. Congratulating the party’s leadership, Atiku expressed confidence that the ruling would further consolidate the ADC’s unity and preparedness for future political engagements, while insisting that no form of political intimidation or sponsored litigation would derail the democratic aspirations of the party and its supporters.