2027: Amaechi warns ADC court ruling could cause civil war

The vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has warned that the Federal High Court judgment against the party’s leadership could trigger a civil war if not properly managed.

Amaechi gave the warning during an interview on Mainland 98.3 FM, saying he had met with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and its chairman shortly after news of the ruling broke.

He said they agreed to appeal for calm to prevent the situation from escalating.

“It could cause a civil war if not properly managed. When we heard the news, we quickly met, myself and the presidential candidate and the chairman of the party, and we said: ‘Please, lower the tempo’,” he said.

Last Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark.

The ruling also invalidated the process that produced Atiku as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Justice Peter Lifu also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and other decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership.

The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting on July 27, 2025.

The suit was filed by Nafiu Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee took control of the party.

Amaechi insisted that the ADC had no internal leadership dispute, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to create confusion because of the opposition posed by the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

“There is no internal rift in our party, none. It is just the fear of the All Progressives Congress, APC,” he said.

He alleged that the ruling party was using the court case to create uncertainty and discourage voters from supporting the ADC.

“When they saw what happened in Sokoto, they began to cause a crisis that would frighten voters,” Amaechi added.

The former Rivers State governor also spoke about his defeat to President Bola Tinubu in the 2022 APC presidential primary.

He blamed his loss partly on his decision to rely on former President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to endorse him instead of lobbying delegates.

Amaechi said Buhari had specifically asked him not to campaign, assuring him that he would announce him as his preferred candidate.

“The only mistake I made was listening to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who told me: ‘Don’t campaign, don’t do anything; I will announce you as my candidate.’ He even had it in writing,” he said.

He explained that he obeyed Buhari because he was his boss and believed the endorsement would strengthen his chances of winning the party’s ticket.

“I would have gone for the primaries and possibly won because I had the governors on my side. I didn’t do deals, Tinubu did deals, and second, Tinubu played on religion. I will never play religious politics,” he said.

Amaechi also accused Tinubu of using religious mobilisation to gain support during the primary.

He alleged that a delegation of Southern Muslim leaders had appealed to governors in the North-West to support Tinubu on religious grounds.

He also referred to a viral video in which former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom he described as one of his supporters at the time, reportedly said the political decision was being taken for the sake of the faith.

Amaechi said he would not mobilise voters along religious lines, even if doing so could improve his chances of winning political power.

“Imagine how Christians felt that he wanted to prove that Muslims own Nigeria. I would never run such an election,” he said.

He added that appealing to religious groups to vote as a bloc could deepen divisions between Christians and Muslims.

“I wouldn’t do anything at all cost because I want power,” Amaechi said.

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