Reacting to the judgment, Atiku urged his supporters to remain resolute, take the campaign's message from house to house and stay peaceful and focused. He said there was "no shaking." His campaign council has also said it will seek interim relief and dispute the legal basis of the ruling, while Atiku says he will appeal the decision and seek a stay of execution. Reports also quote him describing the judgment as a sign of panic from President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).


The ADC has rejected the verdict and says it will petition the National Judicial Council. Political observers say that if higher courts uphold the judgment, it could significantly change the 2027 political landscape and narrow the presidential contest. Peter Obi has also criticised the ruling.


The party had earlier received a boost in July, when the Court of Appeal nullified a separate Federal High Court ruling that ordered the deregistration of the ADC and four other parties. This latest judgment is a fresh setback, and the matter now moves to the appeal stage.