..Former Vice President alleges judicial plot to weaken opposition ahead of 2027 elections
By Eshioromeh Sebastian
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of orchestrating a judicial campaign to deregister opposition parties, describing the move as part of a “hell-bent bid” to entrench a de facto one-party state in Nigeria .
The accusation follows a ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which set aside the court’s December 10, 2025 judgment that had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
Justice Dashen held that the earlier judgment was constitutionally defective because it affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the original suit.
The court ordered that all parties be restored to their positions before the December judgment and directed that the substantive case be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued by his media office, Atiku said he was “not surprised by the disturbing situation,” warning that the plot to weaken opposition parties could have grave consequences ahead of the 2027 election.
According to Atiku, the participation of citizens in free, fair and credible polls is “the soul of democracy,” and any attempt to stifle such freedom of choice “could be a trigger to 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.
The Waziri of Adamawa urged Tinubu to borrow a leaf from former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, noting that neither leader deregistered opposition parties during their tenure .
“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 reminded Tinubu.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has rejected the ruling, maintaining that it has not been deregistered and vowing to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party argued that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment in December 2025 and therefore lacked jurisdiction to revisit the substantive issues .
“There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision that has been made, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order,” the party stated .
The NDC insisted that it remains a legally recognised political party, noting that it has participated in recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has already nominated candidates for various elective positions ahead of 2027.
INEC has stated that it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy of the judgment and will reserve comments until its legal department studies the document.
The electoral body confirmed it is aware of media reports surrounding the ruling but will take “an informed, lawful decision” once it receives the CTC.
Meanwhile, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, has called on opposition leaders including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to unite following the court ruling, describing it as “a wake-up call that there is no hiding place for the opposition”.
“It is not too late for the opposition to harmonize their strengths ahead of 2027 if the Yar’Adua 2.0 President Tinubu is to be retired,” Ibe wrote on X .
The former Vice President also advised judges to resist being used by “dishonourable politicians who are bent on destroying the hard-earned democracy in the country” .
“Governments will come and go. Hence, the judiciary must guard her integrity as the last hope of the masses,” Atiku said, warning against allowing “unscrupulous politicians to stain your reputation for their own short-term gain at the expense of justice” .
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