Festus Keyamo insists Nigeria will survive without Atiku Abubakar on the 2027 ballot following a court ruling.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stated on Friday that Nigeria will experience no crisis if former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is excluded from the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
The political commentary came via a public post on X, following a Federal High Court judgment that nullified Atiku's nomination as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress.
Keyamo emphasized that political stakeholders must respect judicial outcomes consistently, according to information published by The Sun Nigeria.
Federal High Court Nullifies ADC Leadership and Nomination
Justice Peter Lifu delivered a crucial ruling on Thursday declaring the David Mark-led caretaker committee of the African Democratic Congress completely illegal.
The court upheld the position of Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman from the North-East, while invalidating all decisions made by the caretaker group.
These nullified actions specifically included the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential standard-bearer for the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo Accuses Opposition of Inconsistent Judicial Stances
Reacting to criticisms from opposition figures, Festus Keyamo accused rival political parties of double standards when reacting to unfavorable court judgments.
The aviation minister recalled the 2019 Supreme Court ruling that nullified APC victories in Zamfara State and handed positions to the PDP.
He also mentioned the February 2020 Supreme Court decision that removed David Lyon as governor-elect in Bayelsa State just before his inauguration.
Atiku Abubakar and Past Supreme Court Rulings
During the 2019 legal dispute in Zamfara State, Atiku Abubakar strongly welcomed the judiciary intervention through his media adviser, Paul Ibe.
At the time, the former vice-president described the judicial outcome as a remarkable victory for the rule of law during the holy month of Ramadan.
Festus Keyamo noted that the ruling party accepted past setbacks without attacking judges, urging opposition parties to adopt similar democratic maturity today.
Reactions to the 2027 Presidential Election Judgment
Defending the recent court verdict, Festus Keyamo argued that legal disputes must be decided strictly on facts rather than political sentiments.
He alleged that the opposition figures attempted to hijack the leadership of the African Democratic Congress through unlawful maneuvers.
Concluding his remarks on the 2027 ballot controversy, the minister boldly declared that the heavens will not fall if Atiku remains excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Atiku Abubakar's nomination nullified for 2027?
A Federal High Court nullified Atiku Abubakar's nomination after ruling that the David Mark-led caretaker committee of the African Democratic Congress was illegal.
What did Festus Keyamo say about the 2027 ballot?
Festus Keyamo stated that Nigeria will not suffer any crisis and the heavens will not fall if Atiku Abubakar is excluded from the 2027 presidential election.
Which court judgment did Keyamo reference regarding APC?
Keyamo referenced the 2019 Supreme Court ruling in Zamfara State and the 2020 ruling that removed David Lyon as Bayelsa governor-elect.
Who leads the faction upheld by the court in the ADC case?
The court upheld the position of Nafiu Bala, a former ADC national deputy chairman from the North-East, against the David Mark-led leadership.
