The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja over its decision to overturn an earlier judgment recognising the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a registered political party, describing the ruling as a dangerous setback for Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed concern that the court’s decision could erode democratic principles and weaken political opposition in the country.
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The Federal High Court had on Friday reversed its previous order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the judgment, held that the earlier ruling affected the interests of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the suit.
Reacting to the verdict, Abdullahi urged the judiciary to remain impartial and warned against the use of legal processes to undermine opposition parties.
According to him, the ruling raises serious concerns about the health of Nigeria’s democratic system.
He argued that opposition parties have repeatedly been subjected to legal battles and administrative actions that appear designed to weaken their ability to compete effectively.
“The pattern is becoming increasingly clear. These actions continue to shrink the democratic space, weaken opposition voices and further strengthen those already in power,” he said.
Abdullahi maintained that the issue goes beyond party politics, stressing that prolonged legal disputes over political party registration could deny Nigerians the constitutional right to freely choose among credible political alternatives.
He added that democracy thrives on fairness, institutional neutrality and equal treatment before the law, insisting that these principles must be protected.
With less than seven months before the general elections, the ADC spokesperson said every development capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process deserves close attention from citizens and democratic institutions.
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