Nigeria’s election season just took a sharp turn. The question of an Atiku Abubakar Nigeria ballot spot is now uncertain after a federal court in Abuja declared his nomination invalid on Thursday, roughly two months before the January 16 vote.
What the Court Decided
Nigerian media reported that the Federal High Court overturned the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under David Mark, who has been fighting Nafiu Bala Gombe for control of the party. Because Abubakar was nominated while Mark led the party, his nomination was thrown out too.
The ADC says it will appeal. Its spokesman called the ruling “another desperate attempt to cripple the opposition.” Abubakar said the timing was no coincidence, since the judgment came a day after he launched his campaign with a rally in Sokoto. President Bola Tinubu’s spokesman denied that the ruling party is involved in the case. The electoral commission, which had validated Abubakar’s candidacy, has not commented.
Why It Matters So Much
Abubakar, a former vice president, finished second in 2023 with 29 percent of the vote. This is his seventh attempt at the presidency. He is promising to restore security and bring back fuel subsidies, a message aimed at voters struggling after Tinubu’s economic reforms.
His absence would also reshape the map. Without him, the race would have no major candidate from the north, in a country where regional balance is politically sensitive.
A Familiar Pattern
Nigerians have seen this before. European Union observers said that in 2023, at least 1,200 court cases led to “excessive pre-election litigation,” and warned it risked eroding trust. Peter Obi’s party also complained this week of last-minute hotel cancellations in Abuja, which the government dismissed as private business decisions.
What to Watch
So, will Abubakar be on the ballot? It is not settled. An appeal could restore his candidacy, or the ruling could stand. Either way, voters, party members and the electoral commission now face a legal scramble with the clock ticking. For Africa’s biggest democracy, how this is resolved will say a lot about how much confidence people can place in the contest itself.
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