Justice Lifu’s Judgment Does Not Void Atiku’s Candidacy — ADC Lawyer

A lawyer to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kalu Kalu, has argued that the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja does not invalidate Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy for the 2027 presidential election.

Kalu made the position known on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, after the certified true copy (CTC) of the controversial judgment was released earlier in the day.

He accused some people of reading into the judgment orders that were not made by the court, insisting that no part of the decision expressly nullified Atiku’s candidacy.

“The judgement of Honourable Justice Peter Lifu does not in any way void the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar for the presidential election coming up on the 16th day of January, 2027. There is no portion of that judgement that voids the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar and other candidates of the party, there is none,” Kalu said.

He urged Nigerians to read the judgment, arguing that its operative orders were being misrepresented.

“And we are placing it on record, let the whole world go and read the judgement of Honourable Justice Peter Lifu. The best you could get from that judgement is a declarative order made by Honourable Justice Peter Lifu that all actions, steps, activities taken by David Mark and Aregbesola from the 29th day of July 2025 till date are null and void and of no effect whatsoever. And people are now importing what is not stated or what is not declared on that judgment,” he added.

Justice Lifu, on November 5, nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and declared invalid the actions taken by the caretaker committee. The ruling followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the party, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the committee assumed leadership after the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

The court’s decision was reported to have affected the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate, as the Mark-led committee organised the primary election.

The ADC rejected the judgment, describing it as legally indefensible and accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of seeking to weaken the opposition. The party also said it would challenge the decision, citing an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, which it said had affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.

On November 6, the party announced that it had filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution, and cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against taking consequential action while the legal challenge was pending.

The release of the CTC on Wednesday came after Atiku’s supporters staged a protest at the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding the authenticated copy of the judgment. They alleged that the delay was intended to deny the former vice president the opportunity to pursue his legal options.

Kalu’s interpretation of the judgment now adds another dimension to the dispute over the effect of the court’s orders on Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition.