ADC Zonal Leaders Warn Atiku, Demand Immediate Halt to Presidential Campaign

According to a report by The Sun on Sunday 15 November 2026, leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) across the six geopolitical zones have cautioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar against presenting himself as the party’s presidential candidate, insisting that his purported emergence lacks a valid legal foundation.

The zonal leaders maintained that Atiku’s claim to the ADC presidential ticket was invalid because the leadership that allegedly produced him had been nullified by a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court.

Their position was contained in a communiqué signed by Dr Christopher Okechukwu, Director of Media and Public Affairs, on behalf of the six zonal leaderships, after a meeting where they passed a vote of confidence in Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe as the party’s authentic and recognised leader.

The group called on Atiku to immediately stop identifying himself as the ADC presidential candidate and suspend all campaign-related activities, including rallies and public engagements conducted in that capacity.

The development followed a November 5, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which the zonal leaders said invalidated the leadership structures associated with Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.

According to the communiqué, the judgment had not been overturned, suspended, vacated or reversed by any superior court; Consequently, they insisted that all members of the party were expected to respect the court’s decision.

The leaders argued that Atiku’s purported candidacy could not be considered legitimate because it emerged from a leadership structure they claimed had already been declared invalid by the court.

They stated, “In law, you cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand; A candidacy that flows from an invalidated leadership is itself without legal foundation.”

They also accused the former vice-president of disregarding the authority of the judiciary by continuing to present himself publicly as the party’s presidential flag bearer.

The communiqué further stressed that no individual, regardless of political status, was above the law, warning that disregarding a valid court judgment amounted to challenging the country’s constitutional order.

The zonal leaders consequently reaffirmed their support for Nafiu Bala Gombe, insisting that the party’s leadership dispute must be resolved in accordance with the law.