Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the outcome of the 2027 general election should be determined through votes cast by Nigerians and not through legal battles in the courts.


Atiku made the statement on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, after the Court of Appeal overturned a Federal High Court judgment that had sought to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and some other political parties from participating in Nigeria’s political activities.

The appellate court’s decision cleared the way for the ADC leadership to continue its preparations for the 2027 elections without facing further legal challenges over its status.

In a statement released by his media office in Abuja, Atiku praised the Court of Appeal for its decision, saying the judgment had restored confidence in the judiciary and protected the principles of constitutional democracy.

He said political parties should compete for support from voters rather than rely on court cases to gain advantage over their opponents.

The former vice president noted that the ruling, together with an earlier decision by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which recognised the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC, had resolved the legal disputes surrounding the party’s leadership ahead of the next general election.

The statement added that the judgment confirmed the ADC’s eligibility to take part in future elections.

According to the statement, the Court of Appeal ruled that the earlier judgment delivered by Justice Lifu on June 15 was invalid because it went against an existing order from the appellate court.

 The court also held that those who filed the case did not have the legal right to bring the matter before it.

The appellate court further ruled that the case was filed too early because the electoral processes in Osun and Ekiti states were still ongoing at the time.

Atiku also pointed to the evidence provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which confirmed that the ADC and other affected parties had met the constitutional and legal requirements needed to operate as political parties.

He said the trial court should have relied on INEC’s position instead of creating additional requirements that were not supported by law.

Atiku described the ruling as a decision that went beyond the interest of one political party, saying it affected the wider democratic process and the right of Nigerians to choose among different political options.

He warned against using courts or government institutions as tools to remove political opponents, saying such actions could damage trust in democratic institutions.

Atiku maintained that democracy depends on allowing citizens to freely decide who leads them through elections, rather than restricting political participation through legal actions.

He thanked the Court of Appeal judges for the ruling, saying the decision reinforced the role of the judiciary in protecting the rule of law.