Court Strikes Out Rotimi Amaechi’s Suit Challenging Atiku Abubakar’s ADC Presidential Candidacy

A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the pre-election suit filed by former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi challenging the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the case on Friday after Amaechi’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), informed the court that his client had decided to withdraw the suit following an amicable resolution of the dispute.

Okutepa told the court that an application to discontinue the matter had already been filed after the parties resolved their differences outside the courtroom. He subsequently urged the court to strike out the case, a request that was granted by the judge.

Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, had asked the court to nullify the ADC presidential primary held on May 25, arguing that the exercise breached provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the party’s constitution and its guidelines governing the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general election.

In the suit, the former governor sought an order preventing Atiku from presenting himself as the ADC presidential candidate, insisting that he was the rightful winner of the primary election.

He also asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Atiku as the party’s candidate and requested that the ADC conduct a fresh presidential primary within 14 days in compliance with the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

Filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1215/2026, the case listed Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (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, adding that he lawfully purchased the party’s nomination form, passed the screening process and participated fully in the presidential primary.

The court’s decision to strike out the case brings the legal challenge to an end, leaving Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the ADC presidential candidate uncontested following the withdrawal of the suit.