A Federal High Court in Abuja has voided the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress.
The ruling delivered on Thursday invalidates all actions taken by the party's interim national executive, creating fresh legal turbulence for the main opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Presiding Judge Justice Peter Lifu declared that the caretaker committee that conducted the party's presidential primary was constituted illegally.
High Court Voids Interim Leadership and Nominations
The court ruling dismantled the current leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress, which had been led by former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Lifu ruled that the caretaker committee violated the party constitution, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution when taking control of the organisation.
The judgment nullified the selection of all national officers, including former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary.
The court also set aside all decisions made during the party's national executive committee meeting held in July 2025.
Because the leadership was declared unlawful, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognise any candidate produced through its primaries, including Atiku Abubakar.
Internal Dispute Behind the Legal Challenge
The legal challenge stemmed from internal leadership friction within the African Democratic Congress following the resignation of its former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
A former national deputy chairman from the North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, filed the lawsuit under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.
Gombe argued that party rules entitled him to assume the national chairmanship rather than an unconstitutionally appointed caretaker body.
The court agreed with his claims, holding that national officers can only be elected through a valid national convention.
The ruling directly affects all federal and state legislative candidates nominated by the party for the upcoming ballot.
Opposition Vows Urgent Appeal Ahead of 2027 Polls
The African Democratic Congress swiftly rejected the judgment and announced that legal counsel will immediately lodge an appeal.
Party national spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the ruling as an attempt to weaken the opposition shortly after it launched its campaign.
The verdict came just twenty-four hours after the party staged a high-profile presidential campaign rally in Sokoto.
Party officials maintained that their nomination procedures adhered to internal guidelines and expressed confidence that higher courts will overturn the decision.
Spokespersons for the ruling administration dismissed accusations of interference, stating that the dispute is strictly an internal party matter handled by the judiciary.
What the Verdict Means for Voters
Under Nigerian electoral law, a judgment from the Federal High Court remains subject to review by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
If the ruling stands on appeal, the African Democratic Congress would be barred from fielding candidates in the general election scheduled for early 2027.
If the appellate bench grants a stay or reverses the judgment, Atiku Abubakar's candidacy will remain intact on the official ballot.
With campaign schedules accelerating across the country, both election officials and party supporters now await an expedited hearing before the appellate courts.
