The African Democratic Congress has vowed to participate in the 2027 general election despite a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership structure under which its candidates emerged.

The party said the ruling will not stop its campaign or remove it from the ballot.

The judgment was delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court nullified the David Mark led national leadership of the ADC and invalidated decisions taken by that leadership, including the process that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party presidential candidate.

The suit was filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, North East, who challenged the process through which Mark and other national officers assumed leadership of the party. The court upheld his claims and declared the processes through which they assumed office unlawful.

In a reaction, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council said the party will contest the 2027 polls and will challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal. The campaign council spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, described the judgment as absurd but not surprising, and alleged that it was part of a plot to weaken the opposition and ensure President Bola Tinubu faces no formidable challenger.

Okonkwo recalled that Justice Lifu had earlier ordered the deregistration of the ADC and four other parties on June 20, 2026, despite an existing Court of Appeal order restraining him. He said the appellate court subsequently described that action as judicial rascality and judicial impertinence, and declared the judge unfit to sit on the bench. The ADC said it had earlier sought the transfer of all cases involving the party from the judge court.

The party National Legal Adviser, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, also said on Channels Television Politics Today that the campaign was going on unperturbed because the party believes the judgment will not stand. He said Atiku will survive because the people are behind him, and accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of being afraid of a strong opposition candidate ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, also rejected the judgment and vowed to continue his campaign.

He questioned the timing of the ruling, which came barely 24 hours after he launched his presidential campaign before a large crowd in Sokoto State, and said the campaign had already moved to Kebbi State. The party said its lawyers were preparing to seek a stay of execution, while the Independent National Electoral Commission currently recognises the David Mark led leadership.