Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the attempt to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) through the courts reflects what he describes as an effort by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to weaken opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of being behind what he described as an attempt to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) through judicial means, alleging that the move is aimed at imposing a one-party state in Nigeria. The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Atiku Media Office.
According to the statement, Atiku said the court action affecting the NDC represents a broader effort to weaken opposition parties and restrict political competition ahead of the 2027 general election. He argued that any attempt to reduce the number of viable political parties through the courts poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process and the right of citizens to make electoral choices.
The former vice president further stated that the development did not come as a surprise, saying recent political events had raised concerns about the administration’s commitment to democratic principles. He maintained that democracy thrives on competition and that governments confident in their performance should not fear free and fair elections.
Atiku’s reaction followed the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party. The judgment has since generated responses from the NDC, INEC and other political stakeholders, with the party indicating that it would challenge the decision through the appellate courts.
In the statement issued by his media office, Atiku urged President Tinubu to emulate former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, noting that neither administration sought to deregister opposition parties despite intense political competition. He also said that any effort to limit political participation could undermine democratic governance and national stability.
The statement concluded with a call for the protection of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy, while maintaining that opposition parties should be allowed to participate freely in the political process without judicial or administrative interference. As of the time of reporting, the Presidency had not responded to Atiku’s allegations.