Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to weaken Nigeria’s democracy through an alleged plan to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), warning that such a move could push the country towards a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku made the allegation in a statement released on Saturday by his media office in Abuja. The statement, which was also shared on X by his media aide, Paul Ibe, came a day after the Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside an earlier judgment that had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
The former vice president described the court development as part of what he called a wider effort by the Tinubu administration to weaken political opposition through judicial means.
According to him, any attempt to reduce political competition or deny Nigerians the opportunity to choose freely among different political parties threatens the country’s democratic system and could create political instability.
Atiku said recent actions by the government have raised serious questions about its commitment to democratic values and free elections.
“Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of President Tinubu, who pretends to be a democrat, but his body language and the sinister activities of his agents contradict his mouthed commitment to free and fair elections,” he stated.
The former vice president argued that democracy can only survive when citizens are free to participate in transparent and credible elections without restrictions on political choices.
He warned that any attempt to suppress opposition parties could have serious consequences for the country’s democratic future.
“Participation of citizens in a free, fair and credible poll is the soul of democracy, and any attempt to stifle such freedom of choice could be a trigger to chaos and anarchy,” Atiku said.
He also challenged President Tinubu to demonstrate confidence in his administration by allowing open political competition rather than seeking to weaken opposition parties.
According to Atiku, any government that enjoys public support and has delivered good governance should have nothing to fear from competitive elections.
“If you’re truly popular and your policies have positively bettered the lives of the citizens, you shouldn’t be afraid of a free and fair competition,” he said.
The former vice president further accused Tinubu of abandoning the democratic ideals he once defended during Nigeria’s military era.
Tinubu was among the politicians and pro-democracy activists who opposed military rule during the struggle that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Atiku argued that the President’s current actions do not reflect the democratic principles he once championed.
“Tinubu cannot be a champion of democracy under military dictatorship and now become the worst enemy of everything that democracy stands for,” Atiku said.
“You can’t attempt to rule the people against their will and still pretend that you’re committed to free and fair elections in 2027.”
He also called on the judiciary to resist political pressure and remain independent, saying the courts must continue to protect justice regardless of the government in power.
According to him, the judiciary remains the last hope of ordinary Nigerians and should not allow itself to be used for political purposes.
“Governments will come and go. Hence, the judiciary must guard her integrity as the last hope of the masses,” he stated.
While acknowledging that many judges have continued to uphold the rule of law, Atiku expressed concern that the conduct of a few judicial officers could damage public confidence in the country’s justice system.
“There are great judges in Nigeria, but the unchecked excesses of some who allow themselves to become judicial swords on the hands of politicians are capable of damaging the larger image of the judiciary,” he added.
The comments followed Friday’s judgment by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, who nullified the court’s earlier ruling delivered on December 10, 2025.
The earlier judgment had directed INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party, but the court has now ordered that the case be heard afresh.
Justice Dashen ruled that the earlier decision affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which was not joined in the original suit despite claiming ownership of the logo that formed part of the NDC’s registration process.
The judge held that the failure to include the Peace Movement Party in the proceedings amounted to a denial of fair hearing.
As a result, the court ordered that all parties return to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive case be reheard with all relevant parties properly joined.
The ruling effectively puts the registration of the NDC on hold until the fresh hearing is concluded.
Political observers believe the case could have wider implications for the country’s political landscape as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 general election.
Nigeria operates a multi-party democracy, with dozens of registered political parties recognised by INEC. Over the years, however, several parties have been deregistered by the electoral commission after failing to meet constitutional and electoral requirements, although some of those decisions were later challenged in court.
The latest legal battle over the NDC’s registration has therefore attracted national attention, especially as opposition figures express concern over what they see as increasing pressure on political parties ahead of the next election cycle.
While Atiku insists that any move capable of limiting political competition poses a danger to Nigeria’s democracy, supporters of the legal process argue that the court’s latest decision is based on procedural issues relating to fair hearing rather than the merits of the party’s registration.
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