TD A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a pre-election suit filed by former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, challenging the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general election.
The case was struck out on Friday after Amaechi formally withdrew the suit, informing the court that the parties had resolved their differences.
Amaechi’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), told the court that an application for the discontinuance of the suit had been filed following an amicable settlement between the parties.
The court subsequently granted the application and struck out the matter.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1215/2026, had listed Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
Amaechi had sought to nullify the ADC presidential primary election conducted on May 25, 2026.
He argued that the exercise violated provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the party’s constitution, and its guidelines for the conduct of primary elections.
In the suit, the former minister claimed he was the rightful winner of the primary election.
He asked the court to restrain Atiku from parading himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
He also sought an order preventing INEC from recognising Atiku as the party’s candidate.
Amaechi requested that the ADC be directed to conduct a fresh presidential primary within 14 days in compliance with the Electoral Act and the party’s rules.
The withdrawal of the case follows a major political development within the ADC.
Atiku had named Amaechi as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election after the former Rivers governor finished second in the party’s presidential primary.
The move is widely seen as having resolved the internal dispute that gave rise to the litigation.
By striking out the suit, the Federal High Court has brought an end to the legal challenge against Atiku’s emergence as the ADC presidential candidate.
It, thereby, cleared one of the legal hurdles surrounding the party’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
