Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will participate in the 2027 general elections, but former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates backed by the David Mark-led faction may not appear on the ballot.
Keyamo described as misinformation claims that the recent Federal High Court judgment on the party’s leadership could stop the ADC from taking part in the elections.
The minister made this known in a post on his X handle on Sunday, arguing that the court ruling should not be interpreted as a decision barring the entire party from the 2027 electoral process.
“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.
“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),” he wrote.
Keyamo also questioned why candidates who secured their tickets under the faction he described as the original owners of the ADC should be denied the opportunity to contest in the forthcoming elections.
“Therefore, the question we must ask those raising hell is that, are those Nigerians who successfully won their Primaries under the faction of the original owners of the ADC lesser humans or lesser Nigerians than David Mark and Atiku Abubakar?” he added.
His comments come amid the leadership crisis rocking the opposition party following a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, which nullified the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and invalidated its decisions, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
The ruling has sparked reactions within the party, with the ADC and its supporters raising concerns about its possible effect on the party’s participation in the 2027 elections.
However, the party has rejected the judgment and indicated plans to challenge it on appeal.
Keyamo had also suggested on Friday that Atiku’s possible absence from the 2027 ballot should not be a cause for concern.
While defending the court ruling, the minister argued that politicians should respect judicial decisions rather than attack judges whenever judgments do not favour them.
He cited the Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment on the Zamfara State elections, which nullified the victories of APC candidates over irregularities in their party primaries and declared their PDP opponents winners.
He also referred to the February 2020 Supreme Court judgment that nullified the election of APC governorship candidate David Lyon in Bayelsa State, a day before his scheduled inauguration.
The decision paved the way for PDP candidate Douye Diri to become governor.
Keyamo recalled that Atiku had supported the Supreme Court’s decision in the Zamfara case, describing it as a victory for the rule of law.
He questioned why political actors who previously defended court decisions would now criticise the judiciary over a ruling affecting their interests.
“You cannot abuse judges and blackmail the judiciary when it doesn’t go your way,” he said.
“Heavens WILL NOT FALL IF A CERTAIN ATIKU ABUBAKAR IS NOT ON THE BALLOT IN 2027,” the minister added.
Atiku, however, has rejected the implications of the ruling, insisting that nothing would stop him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The former Vice-President said Nigerians should be allowed to decide their political future through the ballot box, while the ADC has vowed to explore legal options to challenge the judgment.
The outcome of the legal battle is expected to affect the party’s leadership, the validity of its primaries and the eligibility of candidates seeking to contest under its platform in 2027.
