Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy for Nigeria’s presidency has been thrown into doubt after a Federal High Court ruling invalidated his nomination and removed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The decision, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, has intensified uncertainty just months before the scheduled 16 January election.
What the Court Decided
The court voided the ADC’s current leadership and ruled that the party’s nomination of Abubakar, a former vice-president, was invalid. The case was brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC national deputy chairman, who argued that the interim leadership under former Senate president David Mark was unlawful because it was not elected at a national convention. Gombe contended that he should have assumed the party’s leadership after the former chairman resigned in 2025.
The ruling follows an earlier decision in July by Judge Musa Liman, who had upheld Mark’s appointment as compliant with Nigerian law and the party’s constitution. Abubakar questioned why a new suit was filed after that judgment, asking why the same dispute was being reopened.
Opposition Reaction
The ADC described the ruling as a deliberate effort to weaken the opposition and stifle its momentum. Abubakar, 79, vowed to remain in the race despite the court’s decision, stating on Facebook that he would not be deterred by threats, blackmail, or legal manoeuvres. He also raised concerns about the timing of the judgment, noting it came a day after a large crowd welcomed him in Sokoto during his campaign launch.
Peter Obi, the other major challenger and candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed shock at the ruling. In a statement on X titled “Do not undermine democracy,” Obi stressed that with three months to the general election, certainty is in the public interest. He warned that democracy in Nigeria should be protected, especially amid military takeovers in West Africa, and called for opposition parties to be allowed to thrive.
Electoral Consequences
The electoral commission has already issued its final list of candidates, and Abubakar appears on the ADC ticket alongside former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate. It remains unclear how the ruling will affect the status of hundreds of ADC candidates or who has the authority to represent them.
The ADC has announced it will appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal. The legal battle adds to a growing trend of Nigerian political parties resolving internal disputes through the courts, raising questions about the stability of opposition politics ahead of the January vote.
