Deregistering ADC and other entities could spark a national crisis, warns Timi Frank.

By Omeiza Ajayi

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has warned that the court‑ordered deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other opposition parties could spark a national crisis and erode Nigeria’s democratic foundations.

In a forceful statement released on Tuesday, Frank described the move as a direct threat to multi‑party democracy, claiming the reported court ruling was part of a broader effort to weaken opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He urged United States President Donald Trump and the international community to intervene urgently to safeguard Nigeria’s multi‑party system.

According to Frank, the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Mohammed A. Danjuma, had earlier directed Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court to suspend further proceedings in the case until an appeal hearing scheduled for October 27, 2026.

Frank questioned the circumstances of the judgment’s delivery, calling it sudden, suspicious and inconsistent with proper judicial procedure.

“The judgment came suddenly without prior notice to the parties involved. From the information available to us, it appeared that the judgment had been prepared elsewhere and simply delivered by the court,” he alleged.

He said neither the parties nor their legal representatives were informed in advance that the judgment was ready for delivery.

“Nobody knew about it. There was no information and no briefing, even to the lawyers representing the parties. The judgment was given suddenly. It was something they plotted and cooked up to make it look legitimate without even notifying the parties involved,” Frank said.

Describing the ruling as a “mystery judgment,” Frank claimed it was engineered to secure a predetermined political outcome, with external interests potentially influencing its preparation and delivery.

“It must be noted that any attempt by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and those working with him to deregister political parties, particularly major opposition parties such as the ADC, will give rise to a crisis that may be difficult to contain,” he warned.

The former APC spokesman argued that the controversy went beyond partisan politics and struck at fundamental constitutional freedoms.

Frank alleged that the current administration had repeatedly sought to undermine opposition parties through actions designed to create divisions and weaken their structures.

He also raised concerns about growing perceptions regarding the independence of the judiciary, alleging a troubling relationship between some executive officials and the bench.

“A government where a serving minister builds houses for judges, provides vehicles, allocates land and extends other benefits to members of the judiciary raises legitimate concerns. There is a growing perception that the judiciary has been captured by forces within government,” he alleged.

Frank further questioned the recurring involvement of a particular judge in politically sensitive cases.

He maintained that many Nigerians view the ADC as a platform with broad national appeal that transcends ethnic, religious and regional divisions.

“The ADC and its presidential candidate represent, in the eyes of many Nigerians, a national movement that cuts across ethnic, regional and religious divides. Any attempt to cripple such a platform for political reasons will fail,” he said.

Frank also alleged that some Nigerians believe certain political interests are trying to prevent particular contenders from fully participating in the next presidential election.

Warning of the potential consequences of shrinking the democratic space, Frank – who also serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East – said any attempt to transform Nigeria into a one‑party state could have far‑reaching implications for national stability.

“Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people. Any desperate attempt to turn the country into a one‑party state could trigger unrest and a crisis that nobody can control. The consequences for national unity and democratic governance would be severe,” he warned.

He called on democratic institutions, civil society organisations, religious leaders, youth groups and professional bodies to defend the country’s democratic gains, and appealed to the Trump administration and other democratic governments to closely monitor political developments in Nigeria.

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