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With both politicians now on the same ticket, the court struck out the case after the suit was withdrawn.

Monica Yahaya Kaltho, one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Gombe State, has withdrawn from a court case filed by some dissatisfied aspirants challenging the party’s governorship primary.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

The Zamfara State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has insisted that a Federal High Court judgment delivered on April 29, 2026, remains valid and must be obeyed until a higher court decides otherwise.

In a statement issued in Gusau by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Abdulkareem Umar, the ADC dismissed claims questioning the ruling and the party’s leadership in the state.

The party said Senator David Mark had appealed the judgment and also applied for a stay of execution. However, it said the application for a stay was not granted, while the Court of Appeal had already fixed a date to hear the appeal.

Quoting the statement, the party said: “The Federal High Court judgment remains valid, subsisting and binding on all parties unless and until it is set aside by a competent appellate court. No individual, group or political interest can lawfully vacate, nullify or disregard the judgment except through the legally recognised appeal process. Court orders must be obeyed while they remain in force.”

The ADC explained that, under Nigerian law, filing an appeal is different from applying for a stay of execution. It also warned that filing multiple appeals over the same judgment could amount to an abuse of court process.

On the leadership dispute, the party said a valid state congress was held in line with its constitution, leading to the election of Alhaji Kabiru Garba Gusau and other members of the State Executive Committee.

It said the current executive would serve until April 12, 2031.

The statement added that the executive’s authority came from a properly conducted congress and not from a caretaker committee.