The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a pre-election suit filed by former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, challenging the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The suit, which named Atiku, the ADC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants, sought to nullify the party’s presidential primary conducted on May 25 on the grounds that it violated the Electoral Act, the party’s constitution and its guidelines for the conduct of the exercise.
The case was struck out on Friday after Amaechi’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), informed the court that the parties had resolved their differences and that an application to discontinue the suit had already been filed. Following the application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the request and struck out the suit.
Amaechi had urged the court to set aside Atiku’s nomination, insisting that the presidential primary was conducted in breach of Sections 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the ADC Constitution and the party’s guidelines for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general election.
He also sought an order restraining Atiku from presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate and asked the court to bar INEC from recognising him as the party’s flag bearer.
In addition, the former minister of transportation prayed the court to direct the ADC to conduct a fresh presidential primary within 14 days in compliance with the Electoral Act, the party’s constitution and its election guidelines.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Amaechi said he was a registered member of the ADC in Ward 8, Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State and had duly purchased the party’s presidential nomination form.
He said he was screened and cleared to contest the primary, participated in the exercise and appointed agents and coordinators to oversee the process across the country.
Amaechi maintained that he won the May 25 primary and, on that basis, asked the court to invalidate Atiku’s nomination.