Court dismisses Amaechi’s suit challenging Atiku’s ADC primary win

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, challenging the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the case on Friday after Amaechi’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, informed the court that his client had decided to discontinue the matter.

Okutepa explained that the parties had resolved the issues that led to the litigation, prompting the withdrawal of the suit.

Atiku had emerged winner of the ADC presidential primary held in May, securing 1,846,370 votes to defeat Amaechi, who polled 504,117 votes. Former Managing Director of the defunct FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, placed third with 177,120 votes.

Before the final results were declared, Amaechi rejected the exercise, alleging widespread irregularities, including voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice. He also claimed the election results were being “concocted.”

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Following the primary, Amaechi approached the court, arguing that the exercise violated Sections 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the ADC Constitution, as well as Sections 2, 2.1 and 2.2 of the party’s guidelines governing the conduct of primary elections for candidates participating in the 2027 general election.

He asked the court to restrain Atiku from presenting himself as the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election and also sought an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Atiku as the party’s flag bearer.

However, the legal dispute became largely academic after the ADC, in June, announced Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, signalling reconciliation between both politicians.

With the withdrawal of the suit, the court formally struck out the case, bringing the legal challenge to an end.