Legal counsel to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kalu Kalu, has maintained that the recent Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu does not nullify the 2027 presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Speaking on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today—hours after the court released the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the November 5 ruling, Kalu argued that commentators claiming Atiku had been disqualified were reading non-existent orders into the judgment.

According to the lawyer, Justice Lifu’s declarative orders strictly invalidated administrative actions taken by the party's David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola-led caretaker leadership from July 29, 2025, without issuing any pronouncement voiding the nomination of Atiku or other ADC flagbearers ahead of the January 16, 2027, presidential poll.

"The judgement of Honourable Justice Peter Lifu does not in any way void the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar for the presidential election coming up on the 16th day of January, 2027. There is no portion of that judgement that voids the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar and other candidates of the party, there is none... People are now importing what is not stated or what is not declared on that judgment," Kalu stated.

The legal dispute stems from a suit filed by former ADC National Deputy Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the emergence of the David Mark-led committee following the resignation of ex-National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

Because that committee superintended the primary election that produced Atiku as the party's presidential candidate, political observers widely interpreted the nullification of the leadership's actions as a direct blow to Atiku's candidacy.

Rejecting the ruling, the ADC has already filed a Notice of Appeal alongside an application for a stay of execution, warning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against taking any action while appellate proceedings remain pending.

The release of the CTC followed protests by Atiku’s supporters at the Abuja court complex over perceived delays in obtaining the authenticated document.

ID