A pre-election legal challenge filed by former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi against the presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been withdrawn, bringing the case to an end at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Friday struck out the suit after Amaechi’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), informed the court that the parties had resolved their differences and filed an application to discontinue the case.
Following the request, the judge granted the application and ordered that the suit be struck out.
Amaechi had approached the court to challenge the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary held on May 25, which produced Atiku as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 general election.
In the suit, the former Minister of Transportation alleged that the primary election did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC Constitution 2026, and the party’s guidelines governing the conduct of primary elections.
He asked the court to nullify Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate and prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising him for the 2027 election.
Amaechi also sought a declaration that he was the rightful winner of the primary and requested an order directing the ADC to conduct a fresh presidential primary within 14 days in line with the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1215/2026, listed Atiku Abubakar, the ADC and INEC as defendants.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Amaechi stated that he is a registered member of the ADC in Ward 8, Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. He said he lawfully obtained the party’s nomination form, passed the screening process and contested the presidential primary after appointing agents and coordinators across the country to monitor the exercise.
The withdrawal of the case removes one of the legal hurdles surrounding Atiku’s candidacy and allows the ADC to continue preparations for the 2027 general elections without the pending court dispute.