The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will participate in the 2027 general elections despite the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the party under Senator David Mark.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
Keyamo, however, warned that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates who emerged under the Mark-led leadership might not appear on the ballot, depending on the final decision of the Supreme Court.
The minister made the clarification in a post on X on Sunday, November 8, 2026, while reacting to claims that the Federal High Court judgment had effectively prevented the ADC from participating in the forthcoming elections.
According to him, the court’s decision does not automatically exclude the political party from the electoral process but raises questions about the validity of candidates nominated by the David Mark-led faction.
“For the education of the public, those raising false alarm that the court judgment on ADC means the Party will not be on the ballot are spreading misinformation,” Keyamo stated.
He maintained that the distinction between the party’s participation in the election and the eligibility of candidates produced by the affected leadership was important.
“The ADC will be on the ballot. It is the David Mark faction of candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, that may not be on the ballot, depending on the final judgment of the Supreme Court,” he said.
The minister’s comments followed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which on Thursday nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and invalidated decisions taken by the faction.
Among the affected decisions was the presidential primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election.
Keyamo argued that the judgment should not be interpreted as preventing the ADC itself from contesting elections, insisting that the legal questions concerned candidates who emerged from the leadership structure affected by the court’s decision.
He also questioned the criticism surrounding the judgment, particularly the position of those defending candidates nominated by the Mark-led faction.
According to the minister, Nigerians who emerged as candidates through primaries conducted under the party’s original leadership structure should not be treated as less deserving of the opportunity to contest elections.
“Therefore, the question we must ask those raising hell is that, are those Nigerians who successfully won their primaries under the faction of the original owners of the ADC lesser humans or lesser Nigerians than David Mark and Atiku Abubakar?” Keyamo asked.
His remarks highlighted the competing claims arising from the party’s leadership dispute and the implications of the Federal High Court judgment for candidates seeking to contest the 2027 elections on the ADC platform.
While maintaining that the party would remain on the ballot, Keyamo stressed that the fate of Atiku and other candidates produced by the David Mark-led faction would depend on the eventual determination of the dispute by the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Atiku and the ADC have rejected the Federal High Court judgment and announced plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
The legal dispute has consequently raised uncertainty over the party’s leadership and the status of candidates nominated under the affected executive ahead of the 2027 general election.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
