Amaechi withdraws uit challenging Atiku’s emergence as ADC candidate

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).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the suit on Friday after Amaechi’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the former governor had filed an application to discontinue the case following a resolution of the dispute between the parties.

Okutepa urged the court to grant the withdrawal application and strike out the matter. After hearing the submission, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that the suit be struck out.

Amaechi had approached the court seeking to nullify the ADC presidential primary election held on May 25, which produced Abubakar as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election.

The former governor, who is also a former Minister of Transportation, argued that the primary election violated provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, the ADC Constitution, 2026, and the party’s guidelines for conducting presidential primaries.

He asked the court to stop Abubakar from presenting himself as the ADC presidential candidate and to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising him as the party’s candidate.

Amaechi also sought an order directing the ADC to conduct a fresh presidential primary election within 14 days in line with relevant electoral laws and the party’s internal guidelines.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1215/2026, listed Abubakar, the ADC and INEC as defendants.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Amaechi stated that he was a registered member of the ADC at Ward 8, Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, and a registered voter eligible to contest elections.

He also claimed that he purchased the party’s nomination form, was screened and cleared alongside other aspirants, participated in the primary election and appointed agents to monitor the process nationwide.