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The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has directed his legal team to approach the Supreme Court for a final determination of issues arising from a recent Court of Appeal judgment, insisting that the ruling does not affect his 2027 presidential ambition.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in a statement obtained by Politics Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, Atiku urged members of the ADC and supporters to remain calm and focused, saying his presidential bid remained on course.

He dismissed claims that the Court of Appeal had invalidated the party’s primary elections for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

“Those celebrating today should celebrate with caution. Those attempting to sell false hope to their supporters should remember that political propaganda can never substitute for judicial pronouncements,” the statement read.

According to Atiku, the judgment related only to the conduct of the party’s state congresses and the tenure of its State Executive Committees, and did not nullify the ADC’s primary elections conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act.

He argued that the election of party executives and the nomination of candidates through party primaries are separate legal processes governed by different constitutional and statutory provisions.

“There is a world of legal difference between the election of party executives through internal congresses and the nomination of candidates through statutory primary elections. They are distinct legal exercises, governed by different legal principles and serving different constitutional purposes. One should not be confused with the other,” he said.

Atiku maintained that courts determine only the issues brought before them and warned against extending the interpretation of the judgment beyond its actual scope.

He also accused his opponents of misrepresenting the ruling, insisting that the country is governed by the rule of law rather than political narratives.

The former vice president reaffirmed his confidence in the judiciary, describing the planned appeal to the Supreme Court as the appropriate constitutional step.

“Let no supporter of the ADC lose sleep. Let no Nigerian who believes in the restoration of our country be discouraged. The struggle to rescue Nigeria has never been about one courtroom or one judgment.

“The road to 2027 remains open, and the resolve of the Nigerian people cannot be overturned by propaganda. Our destination remains unchanged, and by the grace of God and the will of the Nigerian people, we shall arrive,” he added.

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has called on the United Nations (UN) and international human rights organisations to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

The governor made the appeal on Monday during a statewide broadcast shortly after receiving the rescued victims at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan.

Naijapunchnews reports that the schoolchildren and their teachers were abducted on May 15, 2026, before regaining their freedom after spending several weeks in captivity.

Their rescue followed a coordinated security operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and intelligence support from the Department of State Services (DSS).

While expressing gratitude for the safe return of the victims, Makinde said several questions surrounding the incident and its resolution required independent scrutiny.

According to him, the seriousness of the abduction and the circumstances under which it occurred warrant international attention to ensure that the full facts are established and accountability is upheld.

The governor stressed that his call for an international investigation was not aimed at discrediting Nigeria’s security institutions but rather at strengthening public confidence through transparency.

“I, therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, call on the appropriate international human rights organisations and accountability mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system, to closely examine the facts surrounding this abduction and the circumstances of its resolution,” Makinde said.

He added:

“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institutions; rather, it is intended to reinforce confidence, that truth be established, and that every person found to bear responsibility, regardless of office, influence, or affiliation, would be held accountable.”

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to the safety of residents and pledged continued collaboration with security agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers has been widely welcomed across the country, with many Nigerians commending the security agencies involved while also calling for a full account of how the operation was carried out and those responsible for the abduction to be brought to justice.

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The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Alamu Folawe, has recounted the experience she and other abducted teachers and pupils endured in captivity.

She disclosed that the kidnappers deliberately killed two of their colleagues to pressure the government while leaving the survivors with lasting emotional scars.

Folawe spoke on Monday during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Army.

She described their time in captivity as a harrowing experience marked by fear, uncertainty, and the constant threat of death.

“We’re grateful to God. On May 15, a Friday that started well ended in chaos for us, and for 56 days we were in the bush. It was a harrowing experience, but we thank God for seeing us through. We went through a lot,” she said.

The principal said the abductors repeatedly used fear and psychological intimidation to weaken the captives, telling them that the government had abandoned them and no longer cared about their fate.

“A relief to us is that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they used fear to subdue us. At one point they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us. But there were times we held on to hope that we would come out alive,” she recalled

She revealed that the kidnappers executed two captives in an attempt to force the government’s hand.

“Mr. Michael was killed on the second day, while Deacon was killed on the first Sunday in June. They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the government to give them whatever they wanted,” she said.

“It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case. We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies involved in the rescue operation and Nigerians whose prayers and support sustained hope throughout their captivity.