BREAKING: ‘ADC Has No Presidential Candidate’ – Appeal Court Tells Atiku, David Mark

• The Court of Appeal has upheld a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the ADC’s state and national congresses, a ruling that casts fresh doubt over the party’s presidential ticket and leadership structure.

The Court of Appeal has affirmed a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the state congresses and national convention conducted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dealing a significant legal setback to the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

By upholding the lower court’s decision, the appellate court ruled that the party’s internal electoral processes were invalid, meaning every decision, appointment, and nomination arising from the disputed congresses and convention has no legal effect.

The ruling places the ADC’s presidential ticket in fresh legal uncertainty, as candidates who emerged through the invalidated convention could lose their legal standing unless the judgment is overturned by the Supreme Court.

Reacting to the judgment, a legal analyst explained that the decision effectively renders all actions taken during the congresses and national convention a nullity.

“Whatever they did at that convention, the state congresses and the national convention they organised, the court has nullified them. As things stand today, it appears the ADC does not have a valid presidential candidate. They are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, where the law will be tested further.”

The analyst, however, argued that the ruling reinforces internal democracy within political parties by ensuring that party leadership and candidate selection processes comply with both the law and party constitutions.

The ADC is expected to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision at the Supreme Court, which now becomes the party’s final legal avenue to restore the validity of its congresses, leadership structure, and presidential ticket.

Until then, the judgment leaves the party facing significant legal and political uncertainty ahead of the next general election.