Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned what he described as a “sinister plot” to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alleging that the move is part of a calculated effort by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to entrench a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Atiku Media Office, the former Vice President said the attempt to remove the NDC through judicial means was a dangerous assault on Nigeria’s democracy and further exposed what he called the administration’s desperation to weaken opposition parties.
According to him, the latest development did not come as a surprise, warning that any attempt to shrink the country’s democratic space could have grave consequences for national stability.
Atiku said, “The attempt to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), through judicial means, is evidence of the desperate determination of President Bola Tinubu to impose a de facto one-party state in Nigeria, against the democratic wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.”
He argued that the participation of citizens in free, fair and credible elections remains the foundation of democracy, warning that efforts to deny Nigerians genuine political alternatives could trigger instability.
The ADC presidential candidate further accused President Tinubu of projecting himself as a democrat while allegedly undermining democratic principles through the actions of those around him.
“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,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President urged President Tinubu to emulate the democratic conduct of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, noting that neither administration sought to deregister opposition political parties despite intense political competition.
“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.
Atiku added, “Tinubu cannot be a champion of democracy under military dictatorship and now become the worst enemy of everything that democracy stands for.”
He further declared, “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.”
The former Vice President also appealed to members of the judiciary to protect the integrity of the courts and resist any attempt to use the judicial system for political purposes.
“Governments will come and go. Hence, the judiciary must guard her integrity as the last hope of the masses. Don’t allow unscrupulous politicians to stain your reputation for their own short-term gain at the expense of justice. The judiciary is the last hope of the people. Let’s avoid anything that is capable of ruining the credibility and reputation of our courts; not for a messy pot of pottage or love of lucre.”
While acknowledging that many judges have upheld the rule of law, Atiku warned that the actions of a few could damage public confidence in the nation’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 stated.
His comments followed the decision of a Federal High Court in Lokoja to set aside its earlier judgment that had compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party, a ruling that has sparked widespread political reactions and renewed debate over the future of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
