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 the move could push the country towards a one-party system.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his media office, Atiku described the reported move to remove the opposition Party through the courts as further proof of what he called the administration’s determination to cripple political opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
The statement, signed by the Atiku Media Office, was issued in Abuja on June 27, 2026, and was also shared on X by the former Vice President’s aide, Paul Ibe.
According to Atiku, any attempt to restrict political competition or deny citizens a range of choices at the ballot box poses a grave threat to democratic governance and national stability.
He said the development did not come as a surprise, arguing that recent actions and political signals from the current administration had raised serious concerns about its commitment to democratic principles.
“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 warned that efforts to suppress opposition parties could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that citizens’ participation in free, fair and credible elections remains the foundation of democratic governance.
“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,” he stated.
Atiku urged President Tinubu to take a cue from former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, noting that neither administration sought to deregister opposition parties despite fierce political competition.
He argued that any government confident in its popularity and performance should not fear electoral contests.
“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.
The former Vice President further accused Tinubu of abandoning the democratic ideals he championed during Nigeria’s years under military rule.
“Tinubu cannot be a champion of democracy under military dictatorship and now become the worst enemy of everything that democracy stands for,” he 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.”
Atiku also called on members of the judiciary to resist political pressure and protect the integrity of the courts, warning that judicial institutions must not become tools for advancing partisan interests.
“Governments will come and go. Hence, the judiciary must guard her integrity as the last hope of the masses,” he said.
While acknowledging the contributions of many respected judges, Atiku cautioned that the actions of a few judicial officers who allow themselves to be influenced by politicians could erode public confidence in the justice system.
“There are great judges in Nigeria, but the unchecked excesses of some who allow themselves to become judicial swords in the hands of politicians are capable of damaging the larger image of the judiciary,” he added.
The controversy follows Friday’s ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, who set aside the court’s earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.
Justice Dashen subsequently ordered all parties to return to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive matter be reheard with all necessary parties joined in the suit.
Earlier on Friday, Paul Ibe had called on NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso and other opposition leaders to close ranks ahead of the 2027 elections following the court ruling.
He maintained that opposition parties still had enough time to forge a united front before the next presidential election, specifically mentioning Obi, Kwankwaso and other opposition figures as potential partners in challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
