Nigerian court nullifies opposition leader Atiku Abubakar's presidential candidacy

A Nigerian Federal High Court has nullified opposition leader Atiku Abubakar’s nomination as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, two months before the country's elections..

The court also invalidated the leadership of the party’s national executive committee headed by former Senate President David Mark on Thursday, ruling that the committee was unlawfully constituted and had no authority to act on behalf of the party.

The party will appeal, its spokesman said in a statement, adding that the ruling is "another desperate attempt to cripple the opposition and deny Nigerians the right to choose their leaders in the forthcoming general elections".

The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman, who challenged the process through which Mark and his allies assumed control of the party after the resignation of its former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s departure and asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership.

Launched presidential campaign

The court upheld his claims, declaring the actions of the disputed leadership invalid, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the ADC’s candidate.

Atiku, who served as Nigeria’s vice-president from 1999 to 2007, had already launched his presidential campaign and selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

The ADC has indicated that it will appeal the judgment, setting the stage for further legal battles over the party’s leadership and its preparations for the election.

Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election is scheduled for January 16, with insecurity, economic hardship and unemployment expected to feature prominently in the contest.

The ADC, one of the main opposition parties trying to oust President Bola Tinubu, has been mired in lawsuits around its leadership, which have now ensnared its 2027 nominee.

Seventh presidential bid

Abubakar - popularly known simply as Atiku - came second in the 2023 presidential contest, with 29 percent of the vote. Tinubu won the election among a split opposition, taking the presidency with 36.6 percent of the vote.

Also running again this time around is Peter Obi, who finished third in the 2023 poll.

Abubakar, on his seventh go at leading Africa's most populous nation, promised "to make sure that security is restored in every part of this country" at a rally Wednesday in Sokoto state.

TRT Afrika and agencies — TRT Afrika and agencies

Photo: Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar is making a seventh bid for the presidency.