Nigeria's Federal High Court has invalidated the candidacy of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the leading opposition candidate in the upcoming presidential election, and sacked the leadership of the African Democratic Congress party, throwing the race into uncertainty weeks before the 16 January vote. Atiku's camp plans to appeal.
The case was brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy chairman, who argued that interim chairman David Mark and others had not been elected at a national convention. The court ruled Abubakar's nomination was invalid because it was decided in a primary process run by an illegitimate party leadership team. A previous ruling in July by judge Musa Liman had upheld Mark's leadership.
The ADC said it would appeal and described the ruling as "a calculated attempt to weaken the ADC and frustrate" Abubakar's candidacy. Abubakar said the timing was telling, coming barely a day after a large crowd turned out in Sokoto to welcome him at the launch of his campaign, and that the judgment showed "panic was real" among those threatened by his candidacy. He said Nigerians deserved relief from the cost-of-living crisis and urged supporters to remain resolute and focused.
Fellow opposition candidate Peter Obi, who is also contesting the election, said he was shocked by the ruling. "Do not undermine democracy," he wrote on X, adding that "it is in the public interest to have certainty" so close to the election. He said the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria should strengthen the resolve to protect opposition politics.
Despite the court ruling, Abubakar appears on the final list of candidates published by the electoral commission, with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The election is Africa's largest democratic exercise, and a court ruling removing the leading opposition candidate could undermine public confidence in the process.
- If the ruling stands, hundreds of ADC candidates across all levels could face uncertainty over their legal status.
- The case highlights the increasing judicialisation of political disputes in Nigeria, with potential implications for the broader health of democracy.
Background
The African Democratic Congress emerged as the main opposition after a wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party, which had been weakened by internal divisions. Atiku Abubakar, who served as vice-president from 1999 to 2007, joined the ADC in 2025 and quickly became its presidential candidate. The party has faced internal legal challenges, with a previous court ruling in July upholding the leadership structure that is now overturned. Nigeria's presidential election is scheduled for 16 January, with incumbent Bola Tinubu seeking a second term.
Key Perspectives
Atiku Abubakar: The former vice-president said the judgment showed "panic was real" among those threatened by his candidacy and urged supporters to remain focused on their campaign.
African Democratic Congress: The party said the ruling was a calculated attempt to weaken the ADC and plans to appeal.
Peter Obi: The opposition candidate said he was shocked and called for certainty, arguing that the sustenance of democracy should strengthen the resolve to protect opposition politics.
What to Watch
- The Court of Appeal's decision on the ADC's appeal, expected before the election.
- The response of the Independent National Electoral Commission if the appeal is not resolved in time.
- The impact on opposition campaign momentum and voter confidence.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
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- SupportedAtiku Abubakar’s camp plans to appeal the ruling.Semafor: “Atiku’s camp [...] plans to appeal the decision.”
- SupportedThe court also sacked the ADC leadership.BBC News: “Nigeria's Federal High Court has sacked the leadership of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) party”
- SupportedThe Federal High Court invalidated Abubakar’s presidential candidacy.BBC News: “also ruled that the nomination of its presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, is invalid.”
- SupportedThe presidential election is on 16 January.BBC News: “Presidential elections are scheduled to take place on 16 January”
- SupportedThe ruling created uncertainty weeks before the election.Semafor: “creating uncertainty with just 10 weeks to go until voters have their say”
- SupportedThe court ruled Abubakar was not the legal candidate because his nomination came through a primary run by an illegitimate party leadership team.Semafor: “The judge ruled that former vice president and two-time presidential election runner-up Atiku Abubakar was not the legal candidate of the African Democratic Congress because he was elected in a primary process run by an illegitimate party leadership team.”
- SupportedNafiu Bala Gombe argued that interim chairman David Mark and others had not been elected at a national convention.BBC News: “Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC national deputy chairman, argued before the court that this was not lawful as Mark and others had not been elected at a national convention.”
- SupportedA July ruling by judge Musa Liman upheld Mark’s leadership.BBC News: “In July, judge Musa Liman said Mark had been chosen in accordance with the country's laws and the party's constitution”
- SupportedThe ADC described the ruling as “a calculated attempt to weaken the ADC and frustrate” Abubakar’s candidacy.BBC News: “the ADC added that Thursday's judgement by Justice Peter Lifu was aimed at stifling the opposition momentum and "was a calculated attempt to weaken the ADC and frustrate" Abubakar's candidacy.”
- SupportedAbubakar said the ruling came barely a day after a large crowd welcomed him in Sokoto at his campaign launch.BBC News: “He said the timing of the judgment was telling as it came "barely a day after a mammoth crowd turned out in Sokoto [northern Nigeria] to welcome him" at the launch of his campaign.”
- SupportedAbubakar said the judgment showed “panic was real” among those threatened by his candidacy.BBC News: “Abubakar, 79, said it showed the "panic was real" by those who felt threatened by his candidacy”
- SupportedPeter Obi said he was shocked by the ruling and made the statements “Do not undermine democracy” and “it is in the public interest to have certainty.”BBC News: “Peter Obi [...] has said he is shocked by Thursday's high court ruling. He released a statement on X with the heading [...] "Do not undermine democracy". [...] "My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty."”