A Nigerian court has annulled the presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a key opposition figure, ahead of the January presidential election. The ruling, delivered on November 5, comes as Abubakar's party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has been embroiled in internal disputes. The ADC has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using these disputes to undermine the opposition.
The court's decision was made in response to a challenge by Nafiu Bala Gombe, an ADC member, who contested the nomination of David Mark as the party's chairman. The court ruled that decisions made by Mark, including Abubakar's nomination as the party's presidential candidate, were invalid. The ADC has vowed to challenge the ruling, with party spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi describing it as a "desperate attempt to paralyze the opposition."
Abubakar, 80, was making his seventh bid for the presidency. He had launched his campaign just a day earlier, with a rally in Sokoto, northwest Nigeria, attended by thousands of supporters. The ADC has denounced the court's decision, saying it would deny Nigerians the right to "freely choose their leaders." The party has accused the APC of trying to "set Nigeria ablaze."
The APC has denied any involvement in the court's decision, with presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala stating that the party was "absolutely not involved." The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which had validated Abubakar's candidacy, was not available for comment.
The development has raised concerns about the potential impact on the presidential election. Abubakar's absence would leave the election without a major candidate from the predominantly Muslim north, a sensitive issue in a country where regional representation is a significant factor. Abubakar came second in the 2023 presidential election with 29% of the vote.
The court's ruling has also drawn attention to the prevalence of pre-election disputes in Nigeria. The European Union's election observation mission reported over 1,200 court cases related to the 2023 elections, with some being perceived as politicked or overly technical.
The development has also sparked concerns about the potential for further disruptions to the electoral process. Another opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has reported that its campaign events have been disrupted by the APC, with multiple last-minute cancellations of hotel reservations in Abuja.
Key points
- The Nigerian court's decision to annul Atiku Abubakar's presidential candidacy has sparked concerns about the potential impact on the January presidential election.
- The ruling has been denounced by Abubakar's party, the African Democratic Congress, which has vowed to challenge the decision.
- The development has raised concerns about the prevalence of pre-election disputes in Nigeria and the potential for further disruptions to the electoral process.
