The Nigerian political landscape faces fresh instability after the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and ruled that the nomination of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is invalid.
The court’s decision stems from a challenge brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC national deputy chairman, who argued that the party’s interim leadership—including former Senate president David Mark—was installed unlawfully without a proper national convention.
This ruling directly contradicts a previous July decision by Judge Musa Liman, which had affirmed the legitimacy of the party's leadership structure. The ADC, which has become a primary vehicle for politicians disillusioned with the Peoples Democratic Party, now faces a major legal hurdle just months before the January 16 election.
Abubakar, 79, who is making his seventh run for the presidency, dismissed the ruling as a desperate act of panic by his political opponents, claiming the judgment was timed to derail the momentum of his campaign following a large rally in Sokoto.
While the ADC intends to appeal the decision, the legal uncertainty threatens the status of hundreds of candidates currently running under the party's banner. Meanwhile, fellow challenger Peter Obi has criticized the court’s intervention, warning that such legal maneuvering so close to a general election undermines democratic stability.
As the electoral commission’s final candidate list currently includes Abubakar, the legal battle over party authority remains a critical flashpoint in the lead-up to the national vote.
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