Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Federal High Court judgment seeking to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside four other opposition parties.
The presidential candidate of the ADC for the 2027 election described the ruling as a grave threat to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and a calculated attempt to weaken opposition forces ahead of the elections.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the ruling should concern all Nigerians committed to democratic governance, political pluralism and the rule of law.
He argued that the judgment was particularly troubling because it was delivered despite what he described as a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal staying further proceedings in the matter pending the determination of an appeal.
“The judgment represents a dangerous escalation of authoritarian tactics and a blatant assault on Nigeria’s democracy,” Atiku said.
He added: “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.
“On May 22, 2026, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, granted an application staying further proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025 pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before it.
“The implication of that order is not ambiguous. 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.”
According to him, the ruling goes beyond a legal dispute and raises fundamental questions about adherence to constitutional governance.
“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,” he said.
The former vice president further alleged that the judgment was part of a broader campaign to undermine 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 a political elimination by other means.”
Atiku also accused the government of deploying state institutions for political advantage.
“The Nigerian people can see what is happening. Opposition parties are being targeted. Democratic institutions are being pressured. State power is increasingly being deployed not for national development but for political survival,” he stated.
Despite the setback, he urged ADC members and supporters not to lose faith, assuring them that the party would challenge the ruling through constitutional means.
“We wish to reassure all members of the ADC, our supporters, and all Nigerians who believe in democratic competition that we will not be intimidated by these desperate manoeuvres,” he said.
“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.”
He pledged that the ADC would continue to pursue all lawful avenues to defend its existence and protect democratic freedoms.
“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,” Atiku said.
He also called on the judiciary, civil society organisations, the media and Nigerians to remain vigilant against any attempt to undermine democratic institutions.
“Nigeria’s democracy was not won cheaply. It must not be surrendered cheaply,” he said.
Atiku maintained that no amount of political pressure could extinguish opposition voices or override constitutional guarantees, insisting that the democratic aspirations of Nigerians would ultimately prevail.
(The Whistler)