ABIDJAN, April 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ivory Coast's main opposition party said Monday that it had launched legal action seeking to overturn a ruling that barred its leader from running in a presidential election this year.

The Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) suffered a major blow when a court last week struck Tidjane Thiam off the electoral list, only days after he was elected as its leader.

The court ruled that Thiam, a 62-year-old former international banker, lost Ivorian nationality when he acquired French citizenship in 1987 and so could not be on the list. The decision prevents him from being a candidate in a presidential election in October.

There is no appeal against the court's decision but lawyers for the PDCI said they would launch a procedural challenge, alleging that the judge had not properly communicated the decision to the judicial authorities.

Lawyer Luc Adje Kacou demanded "another trial with another judge".

Tensions in the west African country are running high six months from the election. Three other prominent figures, including former president Laurent Gbagbo, are also barred from running.

Born in Ivory Coast, Thiam acquired French nationality in 1987 but gave it up in March to stand in the election, as candidates cannot have dual nationality.

Opponents took action based on the country's nationality code which states that the acquisition of another nationality means Ivorian citizenship is lost.

The rule does not apply to dual nationals by birth. Thiam's lawyers said documents showed that Thiam was also French by birth, through his father.

This was rejected by the court and the justice ministry said there had been "insufficient proof".

Thiam has called the court ruling "democratic vandalism" and insisted he will not be replaced as the party candidate.