Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of orchestrating a plot to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in a desperate bid to establish a one-party state ahead of the 2027 elections. In a statement issued on Saturday, June 27, 2026, Atiku invoked the legacies of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, arguing that neither administration attempted to eliminate opposition parties through judicial manipulation despite intense political competition.
The ADC presidential candidate warned that the move to weaken opposition parties through court rulings poses a grave threat to Nigeria's democracy and could trigger chaos and anarchy. “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. He maintained that citizens’ participation in free, fair and credible elections is the foundation of democracy, warning that any attempt to limit voters’ choices could heighten political tension.
Atiku urged President Tinubu to emulate former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, noting that neither sought to deregister opposition 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,” Atiku said. He further accused Tinubu of abandoning the democratic ideals he once championed during Nigeria’s military era. “Tinubu cannot be a champion of democracy under military dictatorship and now become the worst enemy of everything that democracy stands for,” Atiku declared.
The former vice president also called on members of the judiciary to safeguard the independence of the courts and resist political pressure. “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,” he said. He cautioned that the conduct of a few judicial officers could tarnish the reputation of the entire institution.
The controversy stems from a ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday, June 26, which set aside the court’s earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, that had directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party. The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP) were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of a logo similar to one the NDC had submitted. The ruling effectively vacated the registration order and restored the status quo pending a fresh hearing.
Atiku argued that the reported move reflects a broader agenda to suppress opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election. He warned that limiting political parties or restricting voters’ choices could undermine democratic governance and push the country towards a one-party system. The ADC presidential candidate also reiterated his belief that the Tinubu administration was seeking to weaken opposition parties. He said: “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”.
The NDC deregistration case has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition figures and civil society groups, with many viewing it as a test of Nigeria's democratic resilience ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku’s invocation of the legacies of Buhari and Jonathan is significant, as both former leaders, despite their flaws, did not pursue the deregistration of opposition parties during their tenure. The former vice president’s remarks also highlight the growing tension between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties as the 2027 elections approach. As the legal battle over the NDC’s registration continues, Atiku has drawn a clear line in the sand: the fight for Nigeria’s democracy is far from over, and the judiciary must not become a tool for partisan interests.
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