ADC insists Appeal Court judgment will not affect Atiku, Amaechi’s 2027 presidential ticket

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed concerns that the recent Court of Appeal judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker committee could affect its presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to the ruling on Tuesday, the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, insisted that the judgment was limited to the conduct of congresses and had no impact on the party’s primaries or the validity of its candidates.

According to him, the names of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, and all National Assembly candidates had already been successfully uploaded to INEC.

“I want to tell you that Atiku Abubakar’s and Rotimi Amaechi’s names have been successfully uploaded as our presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The names of all the National Assembly candidates have also been uploaded,” Nwosu said.

He maintained that no court had nullified the leadership of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC).

“There is no judgment so far other than the judgment reaffirming that the process that brought David Mark and the new NWC into being is correct. INEC has confirmed that, and a court of competent jurisdiction has also affirmed it,” he stated.

Clarifying the scope of the Court of Appeal’s decision, Nwosu said the ruling related only to congresses and not the party’s primaries or leadership.

“The Appeal Court judgment talked about congresses, not about the primaries and not about the leadership of the party. Congresses relate to the process of electing party executives at the ward, local government and state levels, while primaries are conducted for the nomination of candidates,” he explained.

He stressed that the party’s candidates emerged through direct primaries conducted by the National Working Committee and monitored by INEC.

“Our candidates emerged through direct primaries. Every registered member of the party voted. The process was organised by the National Working Committee and monitored by INEC. No chairman or caretaker committee member determined the outcome,” he said.

Addressing the dispute over the party’s state executives, Nwosu described the matter as largely an internal affair.

“The state chairmen wanted their tenure extended. Their claim was that they were sworn in on May 12, 2022, and therefore should remain in office for four years. But even by their own argument, that tenure has expired,” he said.

Describing the controversy as politically motivated, he added: “What is happening is basically political rascality. The Supreme Court has ruled time and again that matters concerning the leadership of political parties are internal affairs.”

Expressing confidence in the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 election, Nwosu said no amount of controversy would affect its presidential ticket.

“No matter what happens or the kind of smear campaign against us, Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi will remain our candidates, and we are confident of victory in 2027,” he said.