The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the pre-election lawsuit filed by former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, challenging the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The case was dismissed on Friday after Amaechi’s legal team informed the court that the parties had resolved the dispute and requested permission to discontinue the matter.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the application after Amaechi’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), told the court that a formal notice to withdraw the suit had already been filed. The judge subsequently struck out the case, bringing the legal proceedings to an end.
Amaechi had instituted the suit to challenge the validity of the ADC presidential primary conducted on May 25, 2026, which produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2027 elections.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1215/2026, Amaechi argued that the primary election was conducted in violation of Sections 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as provisions of the ADC Constitution and the party’s guidelines regulating presidential primaries.
The former governor asked the court to nullify the outcome of the primary and declare him the valid winner of the exercise. He also sought an order preventing Atiku Abubakar from parading himself as the ADC presidential candidate and requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be restrained from recognising Atiku’s candidacy.
In addition, Amaechi urged the court to compel the ADC to organise a fresh presidential primary within 14 days in accordance with the Electoral Act, the party’s constitution, and its nomination guidelines.
The suit listed Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
In his supporting affidavit, Amaechi stated that he is a registered member of the ADC in Ward 8, Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. He maintained that he duly purchased the party’s presidential nomination form, successfully passed the screening exercise, and participated in the primary after appointing agents and coordinators to monitor the election nationwide.
However, following the decision to withdraw the case, the Federal High Court struck out the suit, effectively ending the legal challenge against Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
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The ruling means Atiku’s nomination remains intact, with no pending legal action from Amaechi challenging the outcome of the party’s presidential primary.
