ADC WILL BE ON BALLOT, BUT ATIKU MAY NOT – KEYAMO

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has insisted that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will participate in the 2027 general elections, but warned that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates produced by the party’s David Mark-led faction may not appear on the ballot.

Keyamo made the clarification in a post on his verified X account on Sunday, November 8, dismissing claims that the recent Federal High Court judgment had effectively prevented the ADC from contesting the forthcoming elections.

According to the minister, the court ruling did not disqualify the entire political party but invalidated the leadership structure under which the Mark-led faction conducted its activities, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flagbearer.

“The ADC will be on the ballot. It is the David Mark faction of candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, that may not be on the ballot, depending on the final judgment of the Supreme Court,” Keyamo stated.

The controversy followed a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and invalidated decisions taken by the faction.

The ruling came after a leadership dispute involving Nafiu Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership emerged.

Keyamo argued that candidates who successfully emerged through the party’s original leadership structure should not be denied their political rights because of the dispute.

He also questioned why those criticising the judgment were overlooking the interests of other ADC members who had won their primaries under a different faction.

Meanwhile, the ADC and Atiku have rejected the court’s decision and indicated plans to challenge it through the appellate courts.

Atiku has also maintained that he intends to contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that Nigerians should ultimately determine their next president through the ballot.

The legal battle has therefore created fresh uncertainty over the opposition party’s leadership and the validity of its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.