The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly rejected the Federal High Court ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the party and four others, describing the judgment as a dangerous assault on Nigeria’s democratic system.In a statement issued on Monday, the opposition party warned that any attempt to suppress legitimate political opposition through judicial means could trigger a constitutional crisis.
“The African Democratic Congress wishes to warn, in the strongest possible terms, against any attempt to use the judiciary as an instrument to undermine democracy and plunge Nigeria into a major political crisis,” the party said.
The warning followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordering INEC to deregister the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.The ADC, however, maintained that the electoral commission had previously informed the court that the party had not breached any constitutional provisions warranting its deregistration.
According to the party, INEC had “categorically maintained that the ADC had not violated any registration requirements, had not failed any constitutional electoral-performance threshold, and that no legally recognised basis existed for its de-registration.
“The party further argued that the commission had insisted that deregistration “cannot be driven by political pressure, sentiment, or the wishes of interested parties,” but must strictly comply with constitutional provisions.Questioning the legality of the proceedings, the ADC alleged that the trial court proceeded with the matter despite a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal directing a stay of proceedings.
The party described the development as a violation of established judicial processes and expressed concerns over what it termed a sustained effort to weaken opposition forces ahead of future elections.”We are therefore left in no doubt that this latest development is a continuation of the ruling party’s persistent efforts to undermine the opposition, especially the ADC,” the statement added.
Describing the ruling as “reckless, provocative and incendiary,” the ADC warned that “any attempt to eliminate the country’s major opposition party through judicial manoeuvring… is a direct invitation to anarchy.
“The party vowed to challenge the judgment through all available legal channels, insisting that the protection of democratic principles remains paramount to Nigeria’s political stability.
