7 MONTHS TO POLLS: ADC knocks court over reversal of NDC registration
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned the recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which overturned its earlier judgment recognizing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a registered political party.
In a press statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the court’s decision as a major setback and a potent threat to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
The controversy follows a Friday ruling by the presiding judge, Justice Isah Dashen, which set aside a previous court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.
READ ALSO: INEC REGISTRATION: Court overturns order recognizing NDC as political party
Justice Dashen stated that the court reversed itself because the earlier judgment affected the legal rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP). The PMP, which claims ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC, was not joined as a party in the original lawsuit.
Weaponising the judiciary against opposition?
Reacting to the development, Abdullahi warned against the tactical use of administrative and judicial processes to systematic weaken opposition voices in the country.
“The Lokoja Federal High Court’s decision raises serious questions about the state of Nigeria’s democracy,” Abdullahi stated. “Opposition parties have faced avoidable internal crises through recurring legal disputes and administrative interventions allegedly designed to weaken democratic competition.”
The ADC spokesperson argued that the trend has far-reaching implications for the nation’s political landscape.
“The cumulative effect of these attacks is unmistakable. They weaken the opposition, narrow the democratic space, and strengthen those already holding political power,” he said.
With the general elections less than seven months away, Abdullahi noted that any judicial or administrative action that undermines electoral credibility deserves intense public scrutiny. He emphasized that prolonged legal uncertainty fundamentally threatens the constitutional right of citizens to choose credible political alternatives.
“Democracy is sustained by fair competition, institutional neutrality, and equal treatment under the law. This has not been the case,” the statement read, adding that the judiciary must remain fiercely independent. “The judiciary remains one of democracy’s last lines of defence and must never appear to settle political contests.”
A call to action for Nigerians
Invoking the legal maxim that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, the ADC spokesperson cautioned against actions that create a public perception of partisan judicial interference.
He called for a united front among political parties, civil society organizations, organized labour, the media, and the legal community to protect the nation’s democratic values.
“Yesterday’s target was the NDC. Tomorrow, it could be anyone offering Nigerians an alternative. We must defend the democratic space before it disappears,” Abdullahi warned.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to remain vigilant against attempts to silence legitimate opposition, reaffirming that the ADC stands firmly behind the constitutional guarantees of freedom of association and political participation.
