By Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR
A claim that a certified court judgment has been received should be supported by the document. Political declarations cannot establish what a court ordered, whom its orders affect, or whether earlier interpretations were mistaken.
A circulating message attributed to Dino Melaye declares that Justice Peter Lifu’s certified judgment contains neither Atiku Abubakar’s name nor those of other candidates, proclaiming that contrary accounts are propaganda. However, neither that attribution nor the claimed contents have been independently authenticated.
As of checks conducted on 11 November 2026, ADC members were still publicly demanding release of the certified judgment. INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna also said the commission was awaiting its copy before undertaking legal review and deciding its response. These statements do not exclude subsequent receipt by another party, but they make documentary verification essential.
The ADC’s own website provides relevant context. Its earlier statement acknowledged that Justice Lifu’s ruling invalidated the David Mark-led leadership and decisions taken under it, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku. However, that same statement said the party was awaiting the certified copy to establish the precise orders. This records the party’s initial account; it does not substitute for the judgment.
One distinction is crucial: depending on their wording and scope, orders concerning a party’s leadership or nomination processes could affect candidates without naming each individually. Whether that applies here requires examination of the actual orders and relevant law. A search for Atiku’s name alone cannot settle the question.
The appropriate response to the circulating message is therefore straightforward: publish the complete certified judgment, identify the relevant pages and explain the orders. Until then, declarations of vindication remain unsupported.
WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED THE CERTIFIED TRUE COPY OF JUSTICE LIFU’S JUDGEMENT. NO WHERE IN THE JUDGEMENT IS ATIKU ABUBAKAR’S NAME OR ANY OTHER CANDIDATE’S NAME MENTIONED. ALL THE PROPAGANDA AND LIES OF APC HAVE EXPIRED. ATIKU ABUBAKAR IS COMING.
National Patriots’ Position
The National Patriots urge ADC representatives to replace political polemics with documentary evidence. Nigerians deserve accuracy, not premature victory claims or sweeping accusations. Presenting an unverified interpretation as settled fact is irresponsible. Our focus remains communicating the case for continuity, assessing delivery and advancing practical responses to Nigerians’ needs. Campaign arguments should rest on demonstrable achievements and credible commitments. The judgment must speak through its authenticated text; neither partisan excitement nor political noise can substitute for evidence.
Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR
President, The National Patriots
Member, APC-PCC Strategic Communications Committee 2027
