Nafiu-Bala faction warns Atiku against parading as ADC candidate

The Nafiu Bala Gombe-led faction of the African Democratic Congress has warned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar against parading himself as the party’s presidential candidate, citing a subsisting Federal High Court judgment which it claims invalidated the leadership that produced him.

The warning followed a meeting of the party’s six zonal leaders, who passed a vote of confidence in Nafiu Bala Gombe, describing him as the authentic and subsisting leader of the ADC.

In a communiqué signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Dr Christopher O. Okechukwu, on behalf of the six zonal leaders, the faction urged Atiku to stop presenting himself as the party’s presidential candidate.

The group also cautioned the former Vice-President against taking actions capable of undermining the authority of the court, Bala Gombe’s leadership and the unity of the party.

Okechukwu said the zonal leaders had unanimously endorsed Bala Gombe and resolved to issue a formal warning to Atiku to desist from claiming the party’s presidential ticket.

The communiqué referred to a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court on November 5, 2026, which it said invalidated the leadership of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.

According to the faction, the judgment had neither been set aside nor stayed, vacated or reversed by a superior court.

It argued that the ruling remained binding on all members of the party and individuals claiming authority through the invalidated leadership.

The communiqué stated, “It is a matter of incontrovertible legal consequence that the David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola-led leadership, which purportedly produced you as presidential candidate, has been declared invalid by a court of law.

“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.”

The group further alleged that Atiku’s continued campaign activities, public appearances and representations as the ADC presidential candidate amounted to a violation of the subsisting court judgment.

It maintained that no individual, regardless of political standing, was above the law, warning that disregard for a valid court judgment would undermine the authority of the judiciary and constitutional order.

The faction consequently demanded that Atiku immediately stop presenting himself as the party’s presidential candidate.

It also asked him to discontinue all campaign activities, rallies, publications and other representations made in that capacity.

The zonal leaders warned that failure to comply would leave them with no option but to pursue available legal remedies, including contempt of court proceedings and other civil and criminal processes permitted by law.

The communiqué added, “The law must be obeyed. The judgment must be respected. The party will not stand by while its name, platform and processes are used in defiance of a court of law.”