ABUJA, Nov. 10 — African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi urged supporters to stay active after a court ruling affecting the party’s presidential primary.
Channels Television, The Associated Press and Premium Times reported that Justice Peter Lifu ruled Nov. 5 that the David Mark-led leadership and decisions taken under it were invalid, including the primary that selected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Premium Times also reported that the ruling voided the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognize decisions from it.
Amaechi made his comments Tuesday on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. Premium Times and Punch reported that he urged supporters to stay calm and keep campaigning. “Everybody should be calm and continue with your campaign,” he said, according to both outlets.
The case was brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman who challenged the Mark-led leadership after former national chairman Ralph Nwosu resigned, Premium Times reported. The outlet said Gombe argued that he was entitled to lead the party. The dispute followed the ADC’s 2025 leadership change, according to Premium Times.
The Supreme Court returned the dispute to the Federal High Court in April to decide the main issues without ruling on who was entitled to lead the ADC, Premium Times reported.
Before the ruling, INEC’s Oct. 31 list named Atiku and Amaechi as the ADC’s presidential candidate and running mate for 2027. EconoTimes previously covered the commission’s candidate list.
Amaechi indicated the party would appeal. Premium Times reported that he said the ADC had already appealed and had not received a certified copy of the judgment, while Punch quoted him as saying the party was going on appeal. The reports differ on whether an appeal had already been filed. No hearing date was reported.
