Federal High Court Strikes Out Rotimi Amaechi’s Suit Against Atiku Abubakar

The Federal High Court in Abuja, hearing on Friday, declared that former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi’s legal challenge to the emergence of former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar as the African Democratic Congress’s (ADC) presidential candidate was dismissed.^[1]

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the suit, which had been filed prior to the nation’s elections, was struck out. The court noted that the parties had set aside their dispute, thereby removing the basis for the litigation.^[1][2]

Amaechi had challenged the primaries that nominated Atiku, claiming procedural irregularities and asserting that the process was tainted. The court, however, found no grounds to sustain the claim and said the matters were now settled.^[1][2]

Court’s Decision and Context

The ruling comes as Nigeria heads toward the next presidential elections, where the ADC’s choice of Atiku Abubakar has already drawn attention from opposition parties and the media. By striking out the suit, the court allowed the party’s pre‑election agenda to proceed uninterrupted, reinforcing the legitimacy of Atiku’s candidacy.^[1]

Party Dynamics and Settlement

Amaechi’s lawyer confirmed that the former governor and the ADC leadership had reached an agreement to settle the dispute. This move reportedly aims to present a united front as the party positions itself for the next holiday, amid ongoing internal friction over candidate selection.^[2]