ADC ruling: Law is about facts, not sentiments, Keyamo tells Atiku

File: Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has mocked former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, saying the law is decided on facts and evidence, not sentiments and outrage.

Reacting to the judgment, Keyamo declared that although justice might be slow, it was always certain.

The minister made the remark in a post on his social media handle, hours after news of the court’s decision emerged.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, consequently invalidating its actions, including the conduct of the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the ADC’s flag bearer.

The court also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, as well as the appointments of other national officers and the nominations of candidates presented by the party for the 2027 elections.

The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.

Gombe had argued that, following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over its leadership.

He subsequently approached the court to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.

Upholding Gombe’s case, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

Reacting to the development, Keyamo maintained that the law was not determined by emotions, political sentiments or public outrage, but by facts and evidence.

In a post titled, ‘Justice may be slow, but it is always SURE!’ the minister accused the Mark-led faction of attempting to take over a political party without following the laid-down constitutional procedures.

He wrote, “You cannot invade a political Party owned and built by Nigerians, hijack it with the connivance of a so-called National Chairman without a PRIOR meeting and approval of a mini National Convention or the National Executive Committee and hope to bluff your way out of such a brazen act by blaming and blackmailing the ruling Party for a misfortune deliberately stocked by you.

“Sorry, but the law is decided on facts and evidence, rather than sentiments and outrage by a group of people.

“It is not only when a certain ATIKU ABUBAKAR contest the Presidency that democracy is not in danger. The ADC as a Party is well and alive and populated by people and original leaders who are NO LESS Nigerians than a David Mark and his illegal band of marauders.”

The ruling has also cast uncertainty over the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly the status of the presidential primary that produced Atiku and other political arrangements made under the nullified leadership.

Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

Akinlotan is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of experience reporting on politics, social justice, motoring, railways, and aviation. His work focuses on accountability, public interest, and social change, producing stories that inspire reform and amplify underrepresented voices. Akinlotan’s reporting reflects extensive newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a strong commitment to accurate, impact-driven journalism.

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