A Nigerian court has thrown out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s nomination as the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate for the January election, a major setback for one of the leading opposition contenders. The ruling came in a suit by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party, who argued that ADC leaders were not properly elected at a national convention. The judge sided with Gombe and set aside the processes that produced the party executive and Atiku’s candidacy. The ADC rejected the decision, calling it a politically motivated effort to undermine the opposition and vowed to appeal. Atiku secured the party ticket in May, setting up what would have been his seventh presidential bid. He is seen as one of the main challengers, alongside Peter Obi.