ADC will feature in 2027 polls: But Atiku, Mark’s candidates may not – Keyamo
By Mohammed Ismail
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has insisted that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will participate in the 2027 general elections, despite the lingering leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.
Keyamo, however, warned that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates produced by the faction led by former Senate President David Mark could be excluded from the elections, depending on the final decision of the Supreme Court.
Also read
Atiku Fires back at Tinubu: You’re the Egypt Nigerians are desperate to escape
We’re waiting for CTC to make our position known: INEC breaks silence on ADC judgement
Sanusi warns Tinubu: Don’t treat poverty complaints as political attacks
The minister made the clarification on Sunday in a statement posted on his official X handle, dismissing claims that the recent Federal High Court judgment had effectively shut the ADC out of the 2027 electoral process.
He maintained that the court ruling should not be interpreted as a blanket disqualification of the party, arguing that the legal implications principally concern the legitimacy of the Mark-led faction and candidates produced under its leadership.
“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.
“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,” Keyamo stated.
The minister also questioned why candidates who secured their tickets through the faction he described as the original owners of the ADC should be denied the opportunity to contest simply because of the party’s leadership dispute.
He asked whether such candidates were less entitled to participate in the democratic process than prominent politicians associated with the Mark-led faction.
The controversy followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on Thursday, in which Justice Peter Lifu nullified the emergence of the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC.
The court also invalidated decisions taken by the caretaker committee, including processes associated with the emergence of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
The judgment arose from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who challenged the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.
However, the ADC has rejected the ruling and indicated its intention to appeal, setting the stage for another round of legal and political battles over the control of the opposition party.
Keyamo’s latest intervention came barely two days after he declared that Nigeria would not experience any catastrophe if Atiku failed to appear on the ballot in 2027.
Defending the court’s decision, the minister argued that politicians should respect judicial pronouncements rather than resort to attacking judges whenever judgments conflict with their political interests.
He cited the Supreme Court’s 2019 decision on the Zamfara State elections, which nullified the victories of APC candidates over irregularities in their party primaries and declared their PDP opponents winners.
He also recalled the February 2020 Supreme Court judgment that disqualified APC governorship candidate David Lyon in Bayelsa State on the eve of his inauguration, paving the way for PDP candidate Douye Diri to become governor.
According to Keyamo, Atiku had previously supported the Supreme Court’s decision in the Zamfara dispute, describing it as a victory for the rule of law.
He therefore questioned the apparent contradiction in criticising the judiciary over a judgment that could affect the former Vice-President’s political ambition.
“You cannot abuse judges and blackmail the judiciary when it doesn’t go your way,” he said, adding that the absence of Atiku from the 2027 ballot would not bring the country to a standstill.
Atiku, however, has maintained that he will contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that no threat or intimidation will stop him from seeking the mandate of Nigerians.
The former Vice-President has argued that the electorate, rather than political opponents, should determine who governs the country through the ballot box.
The ADC leadership dispute has consequently raised fresh questions about the validity of the party’s primaries, the legitimacy of its leadership and the eligibility of candidates seeking to contest under its platform.
The eventual decision of the appellate courts and, ultimately, the Supreme Court is expected to determine the political fate of the Mark-led faction and its candidates, including Atiku.
For now, while Keyamo maintains that the ADC will remain on the 2027 ballot, the uncertainty surrounding which faction will control its structure could prove decisive for politicians seeking to fly its flag.
