Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to weaken Nigeria’s democracy through an alleged plan to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), warning that such a move could push the country toward a one-party system.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his media office, Atiku described the reported attempt to remove the opposition party through judicial means as further evidence of what he believes is the administration’s determination to weaken political opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement, signed by the Atiku Media Office, was released in Abuja on June 27, 2026, and was also shared on X by his media aide, Paul Ibe.
According to Atiku, any move aimed at restricting political competition or limiting the choices available to Nigerians during elections poses a serious threat to democracy and national stability.
He said the alleged development did not come as a surprise, arguing that recent actions and political signals from the current administration have continued to raise concerns about its commitment to democratic values.
"Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of President Tinubu, who claims to be a democrat, but whose actions and the activities of his supporters contradict his public commitment to conducting free and fair elections," Atiku said.
The former vice president warned that suppressing opposition parties could have dangerous consequences for Nigeria’s democratic system, stressing that the ability of citizens to freely choose their leaders remains the foundation of democracy.
"The participation of citizens in free, fair and credible elections is the soul of democracy, and any attempt to deny them that freedom of choice could lead to chaos and instability," he stated.
Atiku urged President Tinubu to emulate former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, noting that neither administration sought to deregister opposition parties despite facing strong political competition.
He maintained that any government confident in its performance and popularity should not fear a transparent electoral contest.
"If you are truly popular and your policies have improved the lives of Nigerians, there should be no reason to fear free and fair political competition," he said.
The former vice president further accused Tinubu of abandoning the democratic principles he once championed during Nigeria’s military era.
"Tinubu cannot claim to have fought for democracy under military rule and now become an opponent of the very values democracy represents.
"You cannot govern against the wishes of the people and still claim to be committed to free and fair elections in 2027," he added.
Atiku also appealed to members of the judiciary to resist political pressure and safeguard the independence of the courts, warning against allowing the judicial system to become a tool for political interests.
"Governments will come and go, but the judiciary must protect its integrity as the last hope of the common people," he said.
While acknowledging the professionalism of many judges across the country, he cautioned that the conduct of a few judicial officers who allow themselves to be influenced by politicians could undermine public confidence in the justice system.
"There are many distinguished judges in Nigeria, but the actions of a few who permit themselves to become instruments in the hands of politicians are capable of damaging the reputation of the judiciary," he added.
Meanwhile, Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday set aside the court's earlier judgment delivered on December 10, 2025, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party.
The court ruled that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected because it was not joined in the earlier suit despite claiming ownership of the logo used in obtaining the registration order.
Justice Dashen consequently directed that all parties return to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and ordered a fresh hearing of the substantive case with all relevant parties properly joined.
Following the ruling, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, called on NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other opposition leaders to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said there was still enough time for opposition parties to build a common front before the presidential election, specifically identifying Obi, Kwankwaso and other opposition figures as key partners in a united challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
ADEOLA KUNLE
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