The race for the 2027 elections is gathering pace in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after three presidential hopefuls – Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen – purchased their nomination forms between Friday and Saturday, signifying their interest in the ticket.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday 8th May, had adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by an ADC chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 had generated a fresh leadership crisis within the ADC following the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in the party’s leadership structure.
At the resumed proceedings, counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed the interlocutory appeal earlier filed by Mark against the proceedings.
He said the apex court also set aside the Court of Appeal’s order staying proceedings in the substantive suit.
“The interlocutory appeal of the second defendant has travelled to the Supreme Court. My Lord, we are glad to inform this honourable court that on the 30th day of April 2026, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the interlocutory appeal dismissing the said appeal for lacking in merit,” he said.
The lawyer, however, disclosed that the plaintiff had written a letter dated May 4, 2026 to the Chief Judge seeking reassignment of the case to another judge.
Haruna urged Justice Nwite to await the administrative decision of the Chief Judge on the request.
“At this juncture, we must humbly pray to your Lordship to wait for the administrative decision of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,” Haruna said.
However, Hayatu-Deen was the first to pick up the nomination form, becoming the first presidential aspirant of the ADC for the 2027 presidential election.
“A renowned economist, banker, investor, and corporate leader from Borno State, Hayatu-Deen brings decades of experience in economic management, financial transformation, and national development,” the ADC wrote about the aspirant who was received by an enthusiastic crowd of supporters and party faithful.
Atiku, a former Vice President, has also joined the race and is expected to submit his form on Monday (today) at the ADC Secretariat in Abuja.
“H.E. Atiku Abubakar, GCON, has officially received his payment receipt to contest under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election,” the party wrote in a statement on its X handle.
“This development marks another significant moment in the growing movement for national renewal, democratic inclusion, and people-driven leadership within the ADC.”
Rotimi Amaechi, who served as Rivers State governor and later worked as a minister under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, picked his form to contest the ADC presidential primary earlier in the week.
A chieftain of the opposition party, John Oyegun, picked the form on his behalf. He was accompanied by a former minister of environment, Mohammed Abdullahi; Senator Nura Abatemi; Ike Bishop Okoronkwo (CEO, Bishop Plus Media Services); and other notable Nigerians and political stakeholders.
The development comes less than one year before the 2027 presidential elections and weeks before parties conduct conventions to pick their candidates for the exercise.
ADC is one of the main opposition parties in the country, but recently saw two former presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, leave the party’s fold.
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
