Politics · Nigeria · 2027 election
ADC appeals judgment voiding Atiku’s candidacy and asks INEC to wait on a stay
The African Democratic Congress filed a notice of appeal and a motion for stay after Justice Peter Lifu nullified Atiku Abubakar’s nomination, and formally notified INEC of the proceedings.
LAGOS — Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appealed the Federal High Court judgment that voided former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential nomination, filed for a stay of execution, and formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Friday Olokor reported for Arise News.
The move follows Thursday’s ruling by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja, which declared the Senator David Mark-led ADC caretaker committee illegal and nullified actions taken under its leadership, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as flag bearer. The suit was brought by former ADC deputy national chairman (North-East) Nafiu Bala Gombe, who argued that after former national chairman Ralph Nwosu resigned he was entitled to assume the leadership — the same dispute AB24 covered in our earlier report on the Lifu judgment.
Stay pending; INEC put on notice
Arise said it obtained a copy of the Notice of Appeal and Motion on Notice for a stay of execution, signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa and transmitted to INEC. In a Friday statement, Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, said the stay application had not yet been determined and urged INEC to exercise restraint.
“The application for a stay has not yet been determined. INEC must therefore exercise restraint. It must not act as though the appeal and stay application do not exist, or take any step that could pre-empt the Court of Appeal,” Shaibu said, as quoted by Arise. He added that campaigns would continue “without interruption” and told members to remain calm while the party pursued lawful remedies.
AB24’s reading from Lagos: filing an appeal and a stay motion does not automatically suspend Lifu’s judgment — that turns on what the Court of Appeal does next, and on how INEC treats the ADC candidate list in the meantime. Watch for a ruling on the stay, any INEC circular, and whether Atiku’s name remains on the published presidential list for 16 January 2027.
Sources: Arise News / Friday Olokor, 6 Nov 2026; AB24 prior: court nullifies Atiku’s ADC nomination.
— AB24 · Lagos