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Amaechi Withdraws Suit Challenging Atiku’s Emergence as ADC Presidential Candidate

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Former Minister Rotimi Amaechi has withdrawn a suit challenging Atiku Abubakar's emergence as the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election. Amaechi's decision comes after Atiku chose him as his running mate.

Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, filed the lawsuit against Atiku, the ADC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Amaechi's lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, informed the court that an application for the discontinuance of the case had been filed after the parties settled their differences.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the case as prayed, ending Amaechi's challenge to Atiku's emergence as the ADC presidential candidate.

The suit sought an order to set aside the presidential primary election held on 25 May, which produced Atiku as the ADC's presidential candidate. Amaechi claimed that the primary election was conducted in breach of Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2026; the ADC's Constitution, 2026 and Sections 2, 2.1 and 2.2 of ADC's Guidelines for the conduct of primary elections for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The primary election was marred by controversy, with Amaechi alleging that the ADC did not use any membership register for the election, contrary to mandatory standards that each political party must submit such a membership register to INEC not later than 21 days before the date fixed for the party primaries, congresses, and conventions.

Amaechi said that instead, the party relied on the procedure set out in Section 10.8(6) of its guidelines. He added that the ADC did not apply to INEC for a certified true copy of its membership register across the various states and electoral wards of Nigeria for use for accreditation during the said election.

The final declaration of result form published on 27 May was unsigned and lacked columns for the signatures and names of the election committee members who authored them.

Amaechi's withdrawal of the suit brings an end to his challenge to Atiku's emergence as the ADC presidential candidate.

Key Facts

  • The Federal High Court in Abuja struck out a suit filed by Rotimi Amaechi challenging Atiku Abubakar's emergence as the ADC presidential candidate.
  • Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, filed the lawsuit against Atiku, the ADC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
  • The suit sought an order to set aside the presidential primary election held on 25 May, which produced Atiku as the ADC's presidential candidate.
  • Amaechi claimed that the primary election was conducted in breach of Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2026; the ADC's Constitution, 2026 and Sections 2, 2.1 and 2.2 of ADC's Guidelines for the conduct of primary elections for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
  • The primary election was marred by controversy, with Amaechi alleging that the ADC did not use any membership register for the election.