Nigerian Court Invalidates Leadership of Opposition Party and Presidential Candidate

Nigeria's Federal High Court in Abuja has invalidated the leadership of the opposition African Democratic Congress and ruled that the presidential nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is invalid. The judgement, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, comes ahead of the general election scheduled for 16 January. The party announced it would appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal.

The legal challenge was initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party. He argued that the appointment of former Senate president David Mark as interim chairman in 2025 violated party rules because Mark had not been elected at a national convention. Gombe maintained that he should have assumed the leadership following the resignation of the previous national chairman.

The decision reverses a prior ruling issued in July by Judge Musa Liman, who had held that Mark was appointed in accordance with national laws and the party constitution. Abubakar questioned the filing of a second lawsuit over the same dispute, while the party stated that the ruling was intended to cripple the opposition ahead of the vote.

Abubakar joined the opposition party in 2025 alongside several high-profile figures following internal factional disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party. He previously served as vice-president of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007. Following the court's announcement, Abubakar stated that he remained in the presidential race and would appear on the ballot.

The upcoming presidential election is expected to feature incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress against Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. Obi, who recently left the party to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress due to legal disputes within the opposition coalition, stated that the ruling three months before an election creates uncertainty for the electorate. Obi added that the survival of democratic institutions in West Africa requires the protection of opposition politics.

Written by Freya Stensrud freya.stensrud@alpineweekly.com