Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will participate in the 2027 general elections, despite the recent court ruling nullifying the leadership of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark.
However, Keyamo warned that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates produced under the Mark-led faction might not appear on the ballot, depending on the final judicial determination of the party’s leadership dispute.
The minister made the clarification in a post on his verified X account on Sunday, November 8, 2026, dismissing claims that the court judgment had effectively disqualified the entire ADC from participating in the forthcoming elections.
Court Ruling Puts ADC Leadership and Atiku’s Ticket in Doubt
The Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday, November 5, nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and invalidated decisions taken under the faction, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
The case followed a leadership dispute involving Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership assumed control.
Reacting to the judgment, Keyamo argued that the ruling should not be interpreted as preventing the ADC from contesting the elections. Instead, he maintained that its implications concerned candidates nominated under the disputed leadership structure.
Keyamo Questions Opposition to the Judgment
In his statement, Keyamo questioned why critics were portraying the ruling as an attempt to exclude the ADC from the electoral process. He also argued that members who secured nominations under the party’s original leadership structure should have their political rights considered.
His comments have added another dimension to the debate surrounding Atiku’s 2027 ambition and the future of the opposition party.
Meanwhile, the ADC and the Atiku camp have rejected the ruling and announced plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also indicated that it would study the certified judgment before taking a position on the leadership dispute. With the 2027 general elections approaching, the ADC leadership crisis could have significant implications for the party’s candidate selection and electoral preparations. Whether Atiku and other members of the David Mark-led faction will eventually appear on the ballot remains subject to further court decisions.
OGM News NG will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and political developments surrounding the ADC crisis.
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