Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that the 2027 general election must be decided by voters at the ballot box, not through judicial, litigation-driven, or “contrived” lawsuits. He was reacting to a Court of Appeal’s decision overturning a Federal High Court judgment that sought to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties from Nigeria’s democratic space. The appellate court’s ruling effectively clears the legal hurdles surrounding the ADC’s leadership, allowing the party to focus on preparations for the 2027 general election. Reacting, Atiku congratulated the Justices of the Court of Appeal for what he described as their courage, fidelity to the Constitution and unwavering commitment to justice. “As the nation advances towards the 2027 general elections, political contests must be decided by the votes of Nigerians—not by contrived lawsuits seeking to achieve in the courtroom what cannot be won at the ballot box,” he said.