LAGOS — A Nigerian federal court on Thursday declared invalid the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate for the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), dealing a major blow to the opposition just two months before the country’s national elections.
The ADC, one of the primary opposition parties seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu, has been embroiled in ongoing legal challenges surrounding its leadership and electoral eligibility. Earlier this year, the federal government backed a separate lawsuit questioning the party’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential vote.
Abubakar, a former vice president and the party’s flagbearer, is expected to appeal the ruling, though the decision introduces significant uncertainty with the January 16 election fast approaching. The court’s decision was handed down in Abuja just one day after Abubakar officially launched his campaign with a rally in Sokoto state.
According to Nigerian media reports, the court ruled against the current leadership of the ADC, led by David Mark, who has been locked in a bitter dispute with Nafiu Bala Gombe over control of the party. Because Abubakar’s nomination was made under the leadership of the faction led by Mark, the court’s ruling against that leadership has also invalidated his candidacy.
ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi confirmed the decision to AFP, stating that the party had received the ruling and would release a full statement later in the day. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which had previously validated Abubakar’s candidacy, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The potential disqualification of Abubakar would leave the upcoming election without a major northern candidate, a politically sensitive issue in Nigeria where regional representation is highly scrutinized. Abubakar, widely known as Atiku, finished second in the 2023 presidential election with 29 percent of the vote, while Tinubu secured the presidency with 36.6 percent of the vote amid a fragmented opposition.