A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit filed by former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, challenging the victory of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the case on Friday after counsel to Amaechi, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the suit had been withdrawn.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Okutepa told the court that the parties had resolved their differences.
Atiku emerged winner of the ADC presidential primary held in May after polling 1,846,370 votes, while Amaechi came second with 504,117 votes. Former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, placed third with 177,120 votes.
Before the declaration of the final results, Amaechi had rejected the outcome of the primary, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice. He claimed the results were being “concocted.”
He subsequently approached the court, arguing that the conduct of the primary violated the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC constitution and the party’s guidelines for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi sought an order restraining Atiku from presenting himself as the ADC presidential candidate and also asked the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Atiku as the party’s flag bearer.
However, the political situation changed in June when the ADC announced Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
With both politicians now on the same presidential ticket, the suit was withdrawn and the court subsequently struck it out.
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