The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has dismissed claims that the recent Federal High Court judgment on the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could prevent the party from participating in the 2027 general election.
Keyamo said the ADC would remain on the ballot, arguing that the court ruling could affect candidates who emerged from the faction led by former Senate President David Mark, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The minister stated this in a post on his X handle on Sunday, November 8, describing suggestions that the judgment could exclude the ADC from the election as misinformation.
He 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.
“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’s comments followed the Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja on Thursday, November 5, which nullified the leadership of the ADC faction led by Mark.
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The ruling also affected decisions and nominations made by the faction, including Atiku’s emergence as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The dispute arose from 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 judgment has triggered reactions from political actors, with the ADC insisting that it would challenge the ruling and continue preparations for the 2027 election.
Keyamo also questioned why the political rights of candidates who emerged through the faction he described as representing the party’s original owners should be overlooked in the controversy.
He asked, “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?”
The minister’s position suggests that, in his interpretation, the court judgment should not be taken to mean that the ADC as a political party has been barred from contesting the next general election.
However, the final status of candidates affected by the dispute will depend on further court proceedings, including any decision by the Supreme Court.