A spokesman for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the judiciary to pursue political interests against his principal and secure the deregistration of the opposition party.
Okonkwo made the allegation during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he reacted to uncertainty surrounding Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition following a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the ADC led by Senator David Mark.
He further claimed that the ADC’s presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State had unsettled the ruling party.
“The target here is Atiku Abubakar. APC is trying to use the judiciary to achieve political motive not to uphold justice. So, the target here is the Sokoto rally that shocked and shook APC to its bone marrow,” he said.
“Let me tell you something, the Sokoto rally was not a rally, it was a historic rally, it was a journey to rescue our people from the incompetence and corruption of the APC from hunger, unemployment, inflation, and the high cost of living confronting millions of Nigerians.
“Nigeria is a blessed country with natural and human resources, yet families struggle to put food on the table, youths with talents and determination are without jobs.”
Meanwhile, Atiku has also criticised Thursday’s Federal High Court ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, which purportedly removed the Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the former Vice President said the judgment had thrown the APC into panic.
Atiku described the ruling, which nullified the Mark-led leadership and his 2027 presidential nomination alongside those of other candidates, as a calculated move to weaken the opposition party and undermine his candidacy.
He further alleged that the timing of the judgment, coming after the ADC’s large turnout at its Sokoto rally, was intended to divide his support base in Northern Nigeria and disrupt his nationwide “Affordable Life” campaign message, which focuses on the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
The former Vice President also pointed to an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman, which upheld the Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
“The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,” Atiku said.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries. Nigerians across the country are suffering under this government, and they deserve a leader with a credible plan to make life affordable again.
“The timing of this judgment is no coincidence. It is part of a strategy to weaken my support in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message is resonating across the country. But the ruling party’s greatest miscalculation is to assume that my support ends in the North. What we saw in Sokoto, what we will see in Kebbi and across the country, is the strength of a national movement.”