Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has stated that the African Democratic Congress will feature in the 2027 general elections, despite a recent court ruling that invalidated the party's David Mark-led national leadership and the presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking through a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, the minister addressed public anxieties surrounding the legal status of the opposition platform ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle. He emphasized that while the political organization itself remains eligible to field candidates, the specific candidacies tied to the sacked faction hang in the balance until the nation's highest court delivers a final pronouncement.
What did Festus Keyamo clarify regarding the court ruling?
Addressing misinterpretations of the judicial verdict, Keyamo described claims that the party would be completely disqualified from the 2027 polls as misleading propaganda. He maintained that the legal setback strictly affects the leadership faction and its direct beneficiaries rather than the corporate existence of the political platform.
"For the education of the public, those raising false alarm that the court judgment on ADC means the Party will not be on the ballot are spreading misinformation," Keyamo stated online.
He further elaborated, "The ADC will be on the ballot. It is the David Mark faction of candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, that may not be on the ballot, depending on the final judgment of the Supreme Court."
Background on the Federal High Court Judgment
This development follows a ruling delivered on Thursday by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court nullified the leadership hierarchy headed by David Mark and invalidated all administrative actions and electoral primaries conducted under their authority, including the process that selected Atiku Abubakar as the party's flagbearer.
In response to the verdict, both the affected leadership faction and the presidential hopeful rejected the outcome, announcing immediate plans to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
Defending the Original Leadership Structure
Keyamo also addressed critics of the judicial outcome, questioning the rationale behind protests against the verdict. He urged commentators to consider the legal rights of political aspirants who emerged through the parallel, original leadership framework of the party.
"Therefore, the question we must ask those raising hell is that, are those Nigerians who successfully won their primaries under the faction of the original owners of the ADC lesser humans or lesser Nigerians than David Mark and Atiku Abubakar?" the minister queried.
The ongoing legal battle highlights mounting political realignments and judicial interventions as parties position themselves for the 2027 general elections across Nigeria.