Atiku Insists He Will Contest in 2027 Despite Court Ruling

(Atiku Abubakar. Photo by Vanguard News)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he will stay in the 2027 presidential race, despite a recent Federal High Court ruling that affected the ADC's leadership and its presidential candidacy.

He made the statement on Friday in Sokoto.

"Let me be clear to every Nigerian who has stood with us: I am in this race.

I am not going anywhere.

We will be on the ballot," he said.

Atiku said no court ruling, political pressure or intimidation would make him pull out.

He said Nigerians should be free to choose their leaders in a fair and credible election.

He called the judgment part of a wider effort to weaken opposition parties before the 2027 polls.

He accused those in power of using political pressure and legal tactics to block the opposition, instead of letting voters judge their record.

Atiku stated that attempts were being made to corrupt the voters' register using AI generated photos, false names and made up identities.

He warned that these moves could damage trust in the election and push Nigeria towards a one-party state.

"Those who boast of having thirty two governors and claim to have bought, pressured or coerced leaders from other parties into their fold should have no reason to fear a free and fair contest," he said.

Atiku also criticised the government's economic record.

He pointed to rising fuel prices, a weaker naira, higher food costs and businesses closing.

He said insecurity, including banditry and kidnapping, is making life harder. He added that many young Nigerians are leaving the country in search of better lives.

He urged supporters not to give up hope or their voting rights.

"Your vote is your power, and together, we will take our country back," he said.

He also asked opposition parties to resist any push towards a one-party state.

"We will resist with all our strength every attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

Nigeria belongs to all its people," he said.

He told those in power to face the opposition at the polls if they believe in their record.

"If those in power believe in their numbers and their record, let us meet at the polls in a free, fair and credible contest," he said.

The statement follows Thursday's ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case was brought by a rival ADC faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe.

The ruling affected the leadership led by Senator David Mark and the party's preparations for 2027, including its joint presidential ticket with Atiku and Rotimi Amaechi.

The ADC leadership and Atiku have rejected the ruling and plan to challenge it in an appeal court.

BOLA CANNOT USE THE COURTS TO ESCAPE THE PEOPLE’S VERDICT; WE ARE ON THE BALLOT — ATIKU Fellow Nigerians, Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people. No manipulation, conjecture or concoction can erase our place in this contest, silence our campaign or deny Nigerians the right to choose their future. We are on the ballot, and the people must be allowed to decide. Those who boast of having thirty-two governors and claim to have bought, pressured or coerced leaders from other parties into their fold should have no reason to fear a free and fair contest. Yet, instead of presenting their record to Nigerians, they continue to deploy every tactic available to weaken the opposition: political pressure, manufactured narratives, courtroom manoeuvres and attempts to compromise the voters’ register with AI-generated photographs, false names and fictitious identities. These are not the actions of people confident in their record. They are calculated attempts to make genuine competition impossible and push Nigeria towards a one-party state. And what record do they have to defend? This government removed the fuel subsidy overnight without a plan to protect Nigerians. It presided over the steep decline of the naira and allowed food prices to rise beyond the reach of ordinary families. Factories and small businesses have shut their doors. Our young people are leaving in search of hope, while bandits and kidnappers continue to hold communities hostage. Look around you. Market stalls stand empty. Feeding your family has become a daily struggle. Fuel prices keep rising, and silent pain fills homes across the country. Those in power may want you to believe that your suffering does not matter. They may want you to surrender your future before you even reach the ballot box. Do not lose heart. Do not retreat. Your vote is your power, and together, we will take our country back. Let me be clear to every Nigerian who has stood with us: I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot. No threat, blackmail or court manoeuvre will make me abandon you or the cause we share. We will resist with all our strength every attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. Nigeria belongs to all its people. Our democracy must remain open to more than one party and more than one voice. If those in power believe in their numbers and their record, let us meet at the polls in a free, fair and credible contest. Our campaign will continue. Our message on the cost of living will not be silenced or derailed. Stay calm, united and resolute. Together, we will fight for a Nigeria where life is affordable and every citizen’s vote counts. Let me say this plainly: Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box. Atiku Abubakar Vice President of Nigeria, 1999–2007 Sokoto, Nigeria 6 November 2026

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) November 6, 2026