A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a lawsuit filed by former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi challenging former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s victory in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed the case on Friday after Amaechi’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, formally withdrew the suit.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Okutepa told the court that the parties had resolved their differences.

Atiku won the ADC presidential primary in May with 1,846,370 votes, defeating Amaechi, who secured 504,117 votes. Former FSB International Bank Managing Director Mohammed Hayatu-Deen came third with 177,120 votes.

Before the final results were announced, Amaechi rejected the outcome, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice. He claimed the results were being “concocted.”

Amaechi later sued, arguing that the primary violated provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC constitution and the party’s guidelines for selecting candidates for the 2027 elections.

He asked the court to stop Atiku from presenting himself as the ADC presidential candidate and also sought an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Atiku as the party’s flag bearer.

However, in June, the ADC announced Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

With both politicians now on the same ticket, the court struck out the case after the suit was withdrawn.

The Presidency has described as ‘palpable’ the latest strategy of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, involving his supporters, the Obideient Movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, in a post on his verified X handle on Saturday, accused Obi of using repeated claims about threats to his life as part of a political strategy.

Bwala made the allegation in reaction to Obi’s recent remarks in Berlin, Germany, where he claimed there had been an attempt on his life during a planned visit to Benue State in April 2025.

The president’s spokesman dismissed Obi’s claims and argued that they followed what he described as a pattern of making similar allegations.

“The desperation of Peter Obi is palpable. He recently travelled to Europe and was quoted to have alleged that the Governor of Benue wanted to kill him. Imagine lies from someone who said he wants to govern a country like Nigeria,” Bwala wrote.

Bwala equally referred to the recent controversy surrounding Obi’s claims of intimidation at Nigerian airports.

According to him, the former Anambra State governor had wrongly accused airport authorities after allegedly violating airport traffic regulations, suggesting that Obi’s latest allegation about his safety was intended to mobilise members of the Obidient Movement against political opponents.

“The other day he falsely accused airport officials of threatening his life when in fact he violated airport traffic rules.

“Lately his new found allegation on life may appear to be his strategy to use his Obidient movement to threaten people’s life like they have been doing on us,” he added.

Monica Yahaya Kaltho, one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Gombe State, has withdrawn from a court case filed by some dissatisfied aspirants challenging the party’s governorship primary.

The lawsuit questioned the outcome of the primary election, in which only one candidate was presented for affirmation.

Kaltho’s decision was announced in a statement signed by Hussaini Ali Muhammed, media aide to former Gombe State Governor Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, on Saturday.

She also declared her full support for the PDP governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and promised to work for his victory in the 2027 governorship election.

Explaining why she withdrew from the case, Kaltho said she “acted after consultations and in respect of the appeal made by the leader of the PDP in Gombe State, H.E. Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo” who advised her to withdraw from the legal action “in the interest of party unity and progress.”

She described Dankwambo as a father figure and respected leader whose advice she values. According to her, she accepted his appeal because the unity of the PDP and the development of Gombe State were more important than personal ambition.

Kaltho added that party members should remain focused on ensuring the PDP wins the 2027 election and provides good leadership for the state.