Nigerian opposition warns court ruling threatens democratic space

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that overturned a prior judgment recognizing the NDC. The ADC described the decision as a "broader assault on Nigeria’s democratic space" ahead of the upcoming general election.

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Yesterday’s target was the NDC. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to offer Nigerians an alternative. We must not wait until the democratic space has been completely suffocated before we act.

In a statement, the ADC's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, warned that if one opposition party faces prolonged legal uncertainty, any other party offering an alternative could suffer the same fate. "Yesterday’s target was the NDC. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to offer Nigerians an alternative," Abdullahi stated. He urged the judiciary to maintain independence and impartiality, emphasizing that public confidence in the courts is crucial for protecting Nigeria's constitutional democracy.

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The judiciary remains one of the last lines of defence for our democracy and must never be perceived as an arena where political battles are settled on behalf of those who wield executive power. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.

The ADC argued that the NDC's situation is not isolated, citing recent "curious legal battles and administrative interventions" that have caused internal crises for several opposition parties, including the ADC itself. "The cumulative effect of these attacks is unmistakable: they weaken the opposition, narrow the democratic space, and strengthen the hands of those already in power," the party asserted.

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The cumulative effect of these attacks is unmistakable: they weaken the opposition, narrow the democratic space, and strengthen the hands of those already in power. This is not how a healthy democracy functions.

The party further accused the Bola Tinubu administration of failing to ensure a level playing field for political actors. "Democracy can only flourish where institutions remain neutral and political competition is fair," the ADC stated. With the general election just seven months away, the party stressed that any development undermining confidence in the electoral process warrants close scrutiny. The ADC cautioned that a growing public perception of courts being used to achieve political goals poses a significant danger to constitutional democracy.

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This issue goes far beyond the fortunes of any single political party. It goes to the very heart of our constitutional democracy. When opposition parties are persistently distracted by manufactured controversies and prolonged legal uncertainty, the real casualty is the Nigerian people’s right to freely choose among credible political alternatives.