The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the Lokoja Federal High Court’s decision to set aside its earlier judgment recognising the NDC, describing it as part of a disturbing pattern of actions that threaten Nigeria’s democratic space ahead of the general election.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party called on the judiciary to remain independent and impartial, warned against any attempt to weaken the opposition through the courts, and called on opposition parties, civil society, and Nigerians to unite in the peaceful defence of constitutional democracy, insisting that it would continue to resist what it described as attempts to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.
The full statement read:
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken note of the decision of the Lokoja Federal High Court to set aside its earlier judgment recognising the NDC. To us, this is yet another troubling development that raises serious questions about the state of Nigeria’s democracy under the Tinubu administration.
Over the past several months, Nigerians have watched a disturbing pattern unfold. One opposition party after another has been dragged into avoidable internal crises through a succession of curious legal battles and administrative interventions. Our own party, the African Democratic Congress, has not been spared these disruptive attempts. The cumulative effect of these attacks is unmistakable: they weaken the opposition, narrow the democratic space, and strengthen the hands of those already in power. This is not how a healthy democracy functions.
This issue goes far beyond the fortunes of any single political party. It goes to the very heart of our constitutional democracy. When opposition parties are persistently distracted by manufactured controversies and prolonged legal uncertainty, the real casualty is the Nigerian people’s right to freely choose among credible political alternatives. Democracy is sustained by fair competition, institutional neutrality, and the confidence that every political actor will be treated equally under the law. This has not been the case under the Bola Tinubu administration.
With barely seven months to the general election, every action capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process deserves the closest scrutiny.
The judiciary remains one of the last lines of defence for our democracy and must never be perceived as an arena where political battles are settled on behalf of those who wield executive power. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. Nothing is more dangerous to a constitutional democracy than a growing public perception that courts are being deployed to achieve partisan political objectives that cannot be won through the ballot.
The ADC therefore calls on all opposition parties, civil society organisations, the legal community, organised labour, the media, and all Nigerians committed to democracy to close ranks in defence of our republic. Yesterday’s target was the NDC. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to offer Nigerians an alternative. We must not wait until the democratic space has been completely suffocated before we act.
We therefore call on all well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant and to resist every attempt to intimidate, weaken, or silence legitimate opposition voices.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic guarantees freedom of association, political participation, and the right of citizens to freely choose their leaders. Those rights are not concessions from any government; they are constitutional guarantees that must be defended by all.
The African Democratic Congress will continue to stand firmly with every Nigerian committed to preserving our democracy and we will continue to resist every attempt to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state in all but name.
Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi National Publicity Secretary African Democratic Congress (ADC)
