Nigeria’s Federal High Court has nullified the leadership of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring the appointment of its presidential flagbearer, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, unlawful.
The decision has sparked criticism from the party, which described the development as a deliberate effort to undermine opposition activities ahead of the January 16 presidential election.
The ruling comes amid growing political tension as President Bola Tinubu prepares to face strong challengers, including Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
The ADC attracted several prominent politicians in 2025 following internal disagreements within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Among those who defected were Abubakar, who served as Nigeria’s vice-president from 1999 to 2007, and former Senate President David Mark.
Mark subsequently assumed the party’s interim chairmanship. However, former ADC deputy national chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe challenged the arrangement in court, arguing that the new executives had not received their mandates through a national convention.
Gombe maintained that he was constitutionally entitled to lead the organisation after its previous chairman stepped down in 2025.
The latest judgment is not the first judicial intervention in the party’s leadership dispute. In July, Justice Musa Liman upheld Mark’s appointment, stating that it complied with Nigeria’s electoral laws and the ADC constitution.
Reacting to Thursday’s verdict, Abubakar questioned the decision to revisit an issue that had already received judicial attention.
The opposition party also announced plans to appeal the ruling, insisting that Justice Peter Lifu’s decision was intended to disrupt its growing political influence and undermine Abubakar’s presidential ambition.
In a post on X, the 79-year-old former vice-president interpreted the development as evidence of growing anxiety among his political opponents. He also linked the judgment’s timing to a recent campaign event in Sokoto, where thousands of supporters reportedly gathered to receive him.
Despite the legal controversy, Nigeria’s electoral commission has already published its final list of presidential contenders, featuring Abubakar as the ADC candidate alongside former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
The party has emerged as a major platform for opposition politicians seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the court battle threatens to create uncertainty for numerous ADC aspirants contesting other political positions, particularly over the legitimacy of party officials authorised to represent them.
Abubakar, who is pursuing the presidency for the seventh time, has urged his followers to remain calm and continue campaigning peacefully, citing the country’s worsening economic difficulties as a major reason for the need for political change.
Meanwhile, Obi, who is contesting the presidency for the second time under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed concern over the ruling.
In his reaction titled “Do Not Undermine Democracy”, the 65-year-old stressed that political stability required clarity, especially with only three months remaining before the national polls.
Obi previously joined the ADC but later abandoned the platform for the NDC, partly because of its persistent internal leadership disagreements.
He further called for stronger democratic institutions, warning against developments that could weaken opposition participation at a time when military takeovers remain a concern in parts of West Africa.
The NDC flagbearer pledged that his administration would protect multiparty politics and ensure that rival political organisations could operate without interference.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong