Atiku Abubakar candidacy voided by Nigeria court

A Nigerian court declared invalid Atiku Abubakar's nomination as presidential candidate for the opposition African Democratic Congress, creating legal uncertainty two months before Nigeria's January 16 election.

The ADC said it would appeal. Party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi called the decision “another desperate attempt to cripple the opposition and deny Nigerians the right to choose their leaders in the forthcoming general elections”.

The party accused President Bola Tinubu's ruling All Progressives Congress of involvement in the lawsuit. Tinubu spokesman Daniel Bwala denied that, saying the APC “is not involved at all” in the suit over the ADC leadership dispute that led to the decision.

Nigerian media reported that the federal high court in Abuja overturned the current ADC leadership of David Mark, who has been in a dispute with Nafiu Bala Gombe. Abubakar's nomination, made while Mark was leading the party, was also thrown out, Nigerian media reported.

The ruling came a day after Abubakar launched his campaign with a rally in Sokoto state. “The timing of this judgment is no coincidence,” Abubakar said. He did not address the ruling at a later rally in Kebbi state.

Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin, the ADC's chairman in Abubakar's home state of Adamawa, said the Independent National Electoral Commission “has not raised a finger on the qualification of any of our candidates” and said the campaign should continue. INEC did not respond to a request for comment.

If Abubakar cannot run, the election would be left without a major candidate from northern Nigeria, a politically sensitive issue in a country where regional representation matters. Abubakar finished second in Nigeria's 2023 presidential election. Peter Obi finished third and called Thursday's ruling against Abubakar “shocking”.

Obi's party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, also accused the APC of disrupting its meetings, citing last-minute hotel cancellations in Abuja. Bwala denied the accusation and said hotels in Abuja are privately owned.

Abubakar, making his seventh run for Nigeria's presidency, has promised to restore security across the country and reinstate fuel subsidies.