Keyamo says ADC remains eligible for 2027 polls; Atiku's status hinges on Supreme Court

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has stated that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will take part in the 2027 general elections, while the legal standing of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy remains unclear. In a Sunday post on his official X account, Keyamo said recent court decisions had annulled the David Mark-led leadership faction of the party, but that the ruling did not bar the party itself from running. He added that candidates who emerged from the Mark-led structure, including Atiku’s presidential ticket, might be disqualified, subject to the Supreme Court’s final ruling. Keyamo wrote: “For the education of the public, those raising false alarm that the court judgment on ADC means the Party will not be on the ballot are spreading misinformation.” He continued: “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.” The dispute follows a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on Thursday that voided the Mark-led leadership and invalidated major actions by the faction, including the presidential primary that gave Atiku his 2027 nomination. Keyamo challenged criticism of candidates produced through the party’s original recognized leadership, asking whether legitimate contenders under the foundational leadership should be set aside in favor of the Mark-led faction. ADC leaders and Atiku’s campaign team have rejected the court’s decision and said they will immediately appeal to the Court of Appeal, as the contest over the party’s 2027 ticket continues.