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Nigeria court voids Atiku's ADC nomination before January election
A Federal High Court ruling that sacked the opposition ADC party's leadership and invalidated Atiku Abubakar's presidential nomination threatens to upend Nigeria's election three months away.
In brief
A Federal High Court ruling that sacked the opposition ADC party's leadership and invalidated Atiku Abubakar's presidential nomination threatens to upend Nigeria's election three months away. Nigeria's Federal High Court invalidated opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar's ADC nomination and sacked the party leadership…
Court sacks ADC leadership and voids Atiku's nomination
Nigeria's Federal High Court has removed the opposition African Democratic Congress leadership and ruled that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's presidential nomination is invalid.
Why the ADC leadership became contested
High-profile politicians including Abubakar joined the ADC in twenty twenty-five after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party. David Mark became interim chairman, but a former deputy chairman challenged this in court.
The court's conflicting rulings on ADC leadership
In July, a judge ruled David Mark's appointment was lawful. Thursday's ruling by Justice Peter Lifu reversed this. Abubakar questioned why the same dispute was reopened after the earlier judgment.
“Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute?”
ADC says ruling aims to weaken opposition
The ADC called Thursday's judgment a calculated attempt to weaken the party and frustrate Abubakar's candidacy. The party said it will challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Abubakar vows to run despite the ruling
Abubakar, seventy-nine, said he will contest the election on sixteen January regardless. He wrote: I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot.
“I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot.”
Electoral commission has already certified Abubakar
The electoral commission issued its final candidate list with Abubakar on the ADC ticket alongside running mate Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State Governor.
Peter Obi warns ruling threatens democracy
The other main opposition candidate, Peter Obi, sixty-five, said the ruling shocks him. He warned that three months before an election, the country needs certainty and should protect opposition parties.
“My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty.”
Legal chaos could spread across ADC candidates
The legal saga may cause uncertainty for hundreds of ADC candidates and raise questions over who has authority to represent them.
The essence
Nigeria's Federal High Court invalidated opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar's ADC nomination and sacked the party leadership, but Abubakar says he will contest the January sixteen election regardless.
