A factional group of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has threatened to sue former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for parading himself as the party’s presidential candidate.
Led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the group said Atiku’s candidacy is illegal because it came from a leadership already voided by the court.
The group conveyed the threat was contained in a communiqué signed by Dr Christopher O. Okechukwu, Director of Media and Public Affairs, on behalf of the zonal leadership of the party..
They passed a vote of confidence in Gombe as the authentic and subsisting leader of the party.
Warning Atiku to stop parading himself as the party’s presidential candidate immediately, the faction cited the verdict of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, delivered on 5th November 2026, which invalidated the leadership of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.
The verdict is still subsisting, they maintained, adding that: “It has not been set aside, stayed, vacated, or reversed by any superior court.”
According to the faction, the Mark/Aregbesola leadership that purportedly produced Atiku as candidate has been declared invalid.
The communique added: “In law, you cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand.A candidacy that flows from an invalidated leadership is itself without legal foundation.
Atiku’s continued campaign and public presentations as ADC presidential candidate amount to a violation of the subsisting court order, the faction said.
It further warned Atiku to immediately stop parading himself as candidate, cease all campaign activities, rallies, publications and representations in that capacity, and refrain from acts capable of undermining the court, Gombe’s leadership and the unity of the party.
It said that failure to comply will force the party to explore legal options, including contempt of court proceedings and other civil and criminal processes permitted by law.
It added: “Take notice that failure to comply with this warning will leave the Party with no option but to invoke all available legal remedies. The law must be obeyed. The judgment must be respected.”
