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Blow to Nigerian VP electoral bid Confusion after Nigerian rulings
(about 4 hours later)
A Nigerian appeal court has ruled that Nigeria's electoral commission can bar candidates who are not qualified to stand for this month's elections. Nigeria's electoral body has been told to allow Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to run for president in April's poll.
The vice-president's spokesman dismissed claims that this was a blow to Atiku Abubakar's presidential hopes. The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled the electoral body lacked the power to exclude Mr Abubakar from the election.
Electoral officials say graft charges against Mr Abubakar would have to be dropped for him to be eligible to run. But this contradicts a ruling made hours earlier by a superior court which said the Independent National Electoral Commission could disqualify candidates.
He became a leading opposition candidate after falling out with former ally President Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr Abubakar became a leading opposition candidate after falling out with former ally President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Justice Tijani Abubakar at the Federal High Court ordered Inec to respect the verdict and put Mr Abubakar's name on the 21 April ballot.
The court verdict is not a blank cheque for Inec to just disqualify anyone Garba ShehuMr Abubakar's spokesmanThe court verdict is not a blank cheque for Inec to just disqualify anyone Garba ShehuMr Abubakar's spokesman
In a separate case, Mr Abubakar is challenging the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to omit his name from a list of candidates cleared to run in April's poll. But earlier, the appeal court in Abuja ruled that Inec can bar candidates who are not qualified to stand for this month's elections.
But the BBC's Senan Murray in the capital, Abuja, says that even if this ruling goes in favour of Mr Abubakar, Tuesday's appeal court ruling will carry precedence as it is a higher court. The BBC's Senan Murray in the capital, Abuja, says that in theory the appeal court ruling will carry precedence as it is a higher court.
'Academic' Blow?
The appeal court overturned an earlier court ruling which said Inec could not disqualify candidates nominated for the election. The vice-president's spokesman dismissed claims that the appeal court ruling was a blow to Mr Abubakar's presidential hopes.Mr Obasanjo is standing down after two terms in officeMr Abubakar was indicted for graft by a government ministerial panel which investigated corruption in an oil fund. He denies corruption.
Mr Obasanjo is standing down after two terms in office Electoral officials say corruption charges against him would have to be dropped for him to be eligible to run for presidency.
The vice-president's spokesman Garba Shehu says the appeal court ruling was "an academic exercise". The losing parties in both cases say they plan to appeal.
"We are going to appeal that decision. The court verdict is not a blank cheque for Inec to just disqualify anyone," he told the BBC News website.
But our correspondent says the appeal court's decision seems to have put an end to Mr Abubakar's ambition to succeed President Obasanjo, who stands down in May.
Mr Abubakar was indicted for graft by a government ministerial panel which investigated corruption in an oil fund.
President Obasanjo is standing down after two terms and Umaru Yar'Adua is standing on behalf of his People's Democratic Party (PDP).President Obasanjo is standing down after two terms and Umaru Yar'Adua is standing on behalf of his People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Abubakar, a founding PDP member, defected to the opposition Action Congress (AC) after he fell out with President Obasanjo.Mr Abubakar, a founding PDP member, defected to the opposition Action Congress (AC) after he fell out with President Obasanjo.
AC is one of the two main opposition parties contesting the election, and continues to hold mass rallies around the country, despite the block to its candidates' presidential ambitions.AC is one of the two main opposition parties contesting the election, and continues to hold mass rallies around the country, despite the block to its candidates' presidential ambitions.