The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned a Lokoja Federal High Court ruling that set aside an earlier judgment recognising the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said in a statement on Saturday in Abuja that the court’s move was a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the court, on Friday, set aside its earlier order directing INEC to register the NDC.
Presiding Judge Justice Isah Dashen said the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP) and that PMP was not part of the case despite claiming ownership of the logo used by the NDC.
Abdullahi called for judicial independence and warned against using courts to weaken the opposition. “The Lokoja Federal High Court’s decision raises serious questions about the state of Nigeria’s democracy,” he stated.
He added that opposition parties have faced avoidable internal crises through recurring legal disputes and administrative interventions allegedly designed to weaken democratic competition. “The cumulative effect of these attacks is unmistakable. “They weaken the opposition, narrow democratic space and strengthen those already holding political power,” Abdullahi said.
He warned that prolonged legal uncertainty could undermine Nigerians’ right to choose alternatives. “Democracy is sustained by fair competition, institutional neutrality and equal treatment under the law. This has not been the case,” he added.
With barely seven months to the general elections, Abdullahi said every action undermining electoral credibility deserves scrutiny. “The judiciary remains one of democracy’s last lines of defence and must never appear to settle political contests,” he stated.
He urged opposition parties, civil society, labour, lawyers, media and Nigerians to unite to defend democracy. “Yesterday’s target was the NDC. Tomorrow, it could be anyone offering Nigerians an alternative. We must defend democratic space before it disappears,” the ADC spokesman said.
He urged vigilance against attempts to intimidate or silence legitimate opposition and reminded Nigerians of constitutional guarantees of association and political participation. ADC said it will continue to stand with Nigerians in defending constitutional democracy. (NAN)
