Nigerian court rules opposition candidate cannot stand in elections

Nigeria's Federal High Court has sacked the leadership of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) party - and also ruled that the nomination of its presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, is invalid.

A statement from the ADC said the ruling was another desperate attempt to cripple the opposition.

Presidential elections are scheduled to take place on 16 January when President Bola Tinubu's main challengers are again expected to be Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

Several high-profile politicians joined the ADC in 2025 - disillusioned by the factional infighting in the once powerful Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Among them were Abubakar - who had served as vice-president between 1999 and 2007 when the PDP was in power - and former Senate president David Mark.

As accommodations were made for the line-up of political heavyweights, Mark took over as its interim chairman.

But 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.

Instead, he said, he himself should have taken over the party's leadership following the resignation of the ADC's former chairman in 2025.

This is not first time the Federal High Court in the capital, Abuja, has ruled on the leadership of the party.

In July, judge Musa Liman said Mark had been chosen in accordance with the country's laws and the party's constitution - in a case brought by another former ADC member.

Abubakar said the latest case raised serious legal concerns: "Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute?"

In a statement, 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.

The ADC says it will challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

In a statement on Facebook, Abubakar, 79, said he would contest the election despite the ruling, external.

"Let me be clear to every Nigerian who has stood with us: I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot. No threat, blackmail or court manoeuvre will make me abandon you or the cause we share," he wrote on Friday.

He had previously questioned the timing of the judgment, coming "barely a day after a mammoth crowd turned out in Sokoto [northern Nigeria] to welcome him" as he launched his campaign.

Political parties in Nigeria have increasingly been taking internal issues to court.

But as it stands, the electoral commission has issued its final list of candidates, external - and Abubakar is on the ticket for the ADC with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.