ADC youths protest over deregistration ruling, petition NJC

Hundreds of youths affiliated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took to the streets of Abuja on Tuesday, protesting a recent Federal High Court ruling that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister their party and four others. The demonstrators marched from the ADC national secretariat to the Federal High Court, demanding the removal of Justice Peter Lifu, whom they accused of issuing a "highly controversial ruling."

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Justice Lifu must go.

Carrying placards with messages like "Judiciary is not for sale" and "Save our democracy now," the protesters chanted slogans against the judiciary. They expressed fears that the ruling undermines Nigeria's multiparty democracy and could lead to a one-party state. The youths vowed to continue their protest until Justice Lifu is removed from office, emphasizing the ADC's determination to participate in the 2027 general elections by chanting, "No ADC, no election."

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Judiciary is not for sale

Balarabe Rufai, the National Youth Leader of the ADC, addressed journalists during the protest, appealing to former Nigerian Presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Ibrahim Babangida, and Goodluck Jonathan, to intervene. Rufai warned that the judiciary's current trajectory under judges like Justice Lifu could erode public confidence, potentially leading citizens to take matters into their own hands if the courts, considered the last hope, fail them. He stressed that the judgment against the ADC was "not honourable" and could lead to chaos.

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Don’t force Nigerians into chaos

The ADC youth leader revealed that the party has already filed a petition with the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Justice Lifu. The petition reportedly accuses the judge of disregarding a subsisting order from the Court of Appeal that stayed further proceedings in the matter and of engaging in gross misconduct. Rufai expressed disappointment over the NJC's silence on the petition, stating that the protest became necessary due to the council's lack of response.

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Save our democracy now