Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has warned that the controversy surrounding the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) could signal a shrinking democratic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to Friday’s Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier judgment directing the registration of the NDC as a political party, Atiku said the development raises broader concerns about political inclusion, electoral competition and the future of multiparty democracy in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by his media office on Saturday, the former vice president argued that attempts to weaken opposition platforms, whether through political or judicial processes, could undermine public confidence in the democratic process.
“Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of President Tinubu, who pretends to be a democrat, but his body language and the sinister activities of his agents contradict his mouthed commitment to free and fair elections,” Atiku said.
While the Presidency has not responded to the allegation, the statement reflects growing unease within opposition circles over what they perceive as efforts to narrow the political field ahead of the next election cycle.
Atiku said democracy derives its legitimacy from the ability of citizens to freely choose among competing political alternatives and warned against any action that could limit that choice.
“Participation of citizens in a free, fair and credible poll is the soul of democracy, and any attempt to stifle such freedom of choice could be a trigger to chaos and anarchy,” he stated.
The former vice president also used the occasion to renew calls for opposition cooperation, arguing that recent developments underscore the need for political actors outside the ruling party to close ranks ahead of 2027.
His intervention comes amid increasing conversations around possible alliances among opposition leaders as political parties begin positioning for the next electoral cycle.
Atiku further urged the judiciary to remain independent and avoid actions that could create perceptions of political influence in the administration of justice.
“Governments will come and go. Hence, the judiciary must guard her integrity as the last hope of the masses,” he said.
The Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday nullified its earlier order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC, ruling that the interests of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier proceedings and that the matter should be reheard with all relevant parties joined.
The judgment has since generated intense political debate, with supporters of the NDC describing it as a setback for political pluralism, while others argue that the ruling merely reopens a legal dispute that should be determined on its merits.
Beyond the immediate legal contest, however, the controversy has become an early battleground in the wider struggle over the shape of Nigeria’s opposition politics and the character of the democratic process heading into the 2027 elections.