Supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have staged a protest in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a Federal High Court judgment that nullified his candidacy under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The protesters, who gathered at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, accused the court of unnecessarily delaying the release of the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, alleging that the delay could undermine Atiku’s constitutional right to challenge the ruling.
The demonstrators insisted that making the Certified True Copy available to Atiku’s legal team was necessary to enable the former vice president to study the court’s decision and determine the appropriate legal steps to take, including filing an appeal.
They expressed concern that the continued delay could prevent Atiku from effectively exercising his right to seek redress through the appellate court.
The protesters subsequently submitted a petition to the Federal High Court, calling for the immediate release of the judgment and urging the judiciary to ensure that all parties have access to the necessary court documents.
They also disclosed plans to extend their protest beyond Nigeria’s judicial system by submitting the same petition to the United States Embassy and the United Nations.
According to the protesters, approaching the international institutions is part of their effort to draw global attention to what they described as an attempt to deny Atiku access to justice and his constitutional rights.
However, their allegations concerning the delay and its implications remain claims made by the protesters.
Gists9ja reports that the controversy followed a recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which invalidated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.
The court also nullified decisions taken by the Mark-led caretaker committee, including its actions relating to Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
In the judgment delivered last Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the caretaker committee headed by Mark was not legally constituted, thereby ruling in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East).
Gombe had approached the court to challenge the process through which the Mark-led committee assumed control of the ADC’s leadership.
He argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally and legally entitled to assume the leadership of the party.
Consequently, Gombe asked the court to invalidate the actions and decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership, maintaining that the committee had no lawful authority to exercise control over the party.
The court’s decision has since triggered political controversy within the ADC, particularly over the implications for Atiku’s presidential ambition and the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Wednesday’s protest underscores the growing dissatisfaction among Atiku’s supporters, who are demanding access to the full judgment as the legal battle over the ADC leadership and the former vice president’s presidential candidacy continues.
