Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is facing further uncertainty over his 2027 presidential ambition following a fresh Federal High Court judgment that has intensified the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The latest development came after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated a purported resignation letter allegedly written by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former Deputy National Chairman. The ruling further weakened the position of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark, which had relied on Gombe’s alleged resignation to justify its takeover of the party’s leadership in July 2025. In the judgment, the court declared that Mark, former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola and other members of their National Working Committee were not lawfully established as party officers. It also nullified decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the ADC’s presidential candidate. Although the court stopped short of declaring Gombe the substantive National Chairman, it ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the only elected member of the party’s National Working Committee whose four-year tenure remained valid.
The judgment has generated strong reactions within the ADC, with the Mark-led faction rejecting the court’s findings and announcing plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, maintained that the organisation possessed the original resignation letter bearing Gombe’s signature and accused the judge of disregarding evidence it intended to present. He insisted that the document was genuine and argued that the court was wrong to describe it as forged. However, Justice Lifu explained that the certification of a document does not automatically establish the authenticity of a disputed signature, noting that he compared the signature on the alleged resignation letter with those on Gombe’s sworn statements before reaching his conclusion. Gombe had consistently denied authoring the letter, insisting that his signature was forged. Meanwhile, INEC has maintained that it will not take any position on the leadership dispute until it obtains and examines the Certified True Copy of the judgment. The commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, explained that its legal department would review the ruling before advising the commission on the appropriate course of action. He also indicated that INEC would comply with any subsequent court orders arising from the party’s appeal.
The controversy has extended beyond the party’s leadership, with ADC candidates expressing concern that the judgment could jeopardise their participation in the 2027 general elections. Members of the Forum of ADC Candidates in Nigeria have petitioned the United Nations, United States Embassy, British High Commission, European Union and ECOWAS, urging them to encourage respect for due process and the party’s constitutional right to appeal. The candidates complained about delays in obtaining the certified judgment, arguing that the situation was making it difficult for them to challenge the ruling within the available legal framework. The dispute also prompted ADC supporters to stage a protest at the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the document and calling for judicial intervention. Atiku and his supporters have maintained that the former Vice-President will continue pursuing his presidential ambition while exhausting available legal options. However, the latest ruling has placed his candidacy and the party’s preparations for the forthcoming elections under considerable legal uncertainty. The eventual decisions of the Court of Appeal and, if necessary, the Supreme Court, alongside INEC’s interpretation of the judgment, will be crucial in determining the legitimate leadership of the ADC and the status of candidates nominated under the Mark-led faction.
