ADC deregistration: Atiku accuses Tinubu of plotting against the opposition

By Omeiza Ajayi

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned a Federal High Court ruling that seeks to deregister the ADC and four other opposition parties. He described the decision as a dangerous assault on constitutional democracy and evidence of a coordinated effort to eliminate political opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Monday, Atiku said the ruling should alarm every Nigerian who believes in democracy, political pluralism, and the rule of law.

He noted that the judgment was particularly troubling because it was delivered while a Court of Appeal order was still in effect. The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, had granted an application on 22 May 2026 that stayed further proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025 pending the hearing and determination of an appeal.

“The judgment represents a dangerous escalation of authoritarian tactics and a blatant assault on Nigeria’s democracy,” Atiku said. “What makes the situation even more disturbing is that this judgment was purportedly delivered despite a clear and subsisting order of the Court of Appeal. A stay of proceedings means precisely what it says: it freezes every further step in the matter, including the delivery of judgment. Any action taken contrary to that order raises serious questions about respect for the hierarchy of courts and fidelity to the rule of law.” He added, “This latest judgment therefore does not merely contradict a subsisting appellate order; it strikes at the very foundation of legal certainty and constitutional governance. If court orders can be treated as optional whenever they become inconvenient to those in power, then the rule of law itself is in grave danger.”

Atiku said the judgment fits into an increasingly obvious pattern of political persecution and institutional manipulation aimed at weakening opposition parties before the next election cycle.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the Tinubu administration is singularly focused on eliminating major political opponents ahead of 2027,” he said. “Rather than confronting the mounting crises facing the nation—rampant insecurity, economic hardship, rising poverty, unemployment, and the declining purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians—the government appears consumed by a desperate quest to neutralise every viable opposition platform. This is not governance. It is political elimination by other means.”

He warned that the Nigerian people can see what is happening: opposition parties are being targeted, democratic institutions are being pressured, and state power is increasingly being deployed not for national development but for political survival.

The former Vice President urged ADC members and supporters of democratic governance across the country not to be discouraged by the ruling.

“The battle before us transcends political parties. It is a battle for the soul of Nigerian democracy. It is a battle between those who believe in freedom of choice and those who seek to impose political uniformity through intimidation and institutional capture,” Atiku said. “We shall continue to pursue all lawful and constitutional avenues to defend our party, protect democratic freedoms, and preserve the multiparty system which remains the cornerstone of our constitutional order.” He called on the judiciary, civil society organisations, the media, and all patriotic Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist every attempt to subvert democratic institutions for partisan advantage. “Nigeria’s democracy was not won cheaply. It must not be surrendered cheaply,” he added.

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