Nigerian court rules opposition candidate cannot stand in elections

ByMansur Abubakar, Reporting fromAbuja and Lucy Fleming. Updated 1 hour ago.

Key points

• 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.
• A number of high-profile politicians joined the ADC in 2025 – disillusioned by the factional infighting in the once powerful Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
• Instead, he remarked, he himself should have taken over the party's leadership after 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.
• "This is a time to strengthen our democracy by allowing the opposition to thrive." Extra reporting by Chris Ewokor in Abuja.

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

In practice, a statement from the ADC remarked 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 projected to be Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. What is the row regarding?

Notably, a number of high-profile politicians joined the ADC in 2025 – disillusioned by the factional infighting in the once powerful Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As accommodations were created 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.

In July, judge Musa Liman remarked 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 remarked the latest case raised serious legal worries: "Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute?"

In an official note, the ADC continued 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.

For context, the ADC notes it will challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

In an official note on Facebook, Abubakar, 79, remarked 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 create 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 to welcome him" as he introduced his campaign.

Political parties in Nigeria have increasingly been taking internal problems 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. Will the latest ruling affect the opposition?

Notably, the ADC is seen as the most powerful opposition to President Tinubu. Plenty of influential politicians resisted to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have already defected to the party.

In practice, the legal saga could complicate things – it may cause uncertainty for hundreds of ADC candidates as well as raise questions over who has the authority to represent them.

Peter Obi – the other main presidential candidate. This person is on the ballot for a second time – remarked he was shocked by Thursday's high court ruling.

He published a statement on X with the heading, external: "Do not undermine democracy".

For context, the 65-year-old continued: My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty.

Obi had briefly joined the ADC before leaving earlier this year to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) – in part since of the legal challenges within the ADC.

"The sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, in the midst of encroaching military rule in West Africa, should strengthen our resolve to protect opposition politics and not stamp out opposition parties, " he remarked.

As president, he would ensure that the existence of opposition parties would be respected, the NDC's candidate remarked that.

"This is a time to strengthen our democracy by allowing the opposition to thrive." Extra reporting by Chris Ewokor in Abuja. You may additionally be interested in. Why Nigeria's one-time political giant may face extinction. The kidnap gangs, jihadists and separatists wreaking havoc in Nigeria. Why Nigeria's economy is in such a mess.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Taken together, the developments around nigerian court rules opposition candidate cannot stand in elections point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.