SDP presidential candidate faults ADC, Accord deregistration, offers legal assistance

Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate for Nigeria's Social Democratic Party (SDP), has strongly condemned the proposed deregistration of several political parties, labeling the move as unconstitutional, undemocratic, and detrimental to the nation's democratic progress.

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Deregistration of political parties is a bad omen for our democracy. There is no constitutional, legal or moral basis for these alternative democratic platforms to be truncated and thwarted by the Government with the aid of a judicial decree.

Adebayo's reaction follows a recent court judgment ordering the deregistration of parties including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Accord Party. He argued in a statement on his X handle that there is no legal, constitutional, or moral justification for suppressing political parties through government-backed judicial action. The timing of this development is particularly concerning, occurring just days after Nigeria celebrated Democracy Day with public events and renewed commitments to democratic governance.

"Deregistration of political parties is a bad omen for our democracy," Adebayo stated. "There is no constitutional, legal or moral basis for these alternative democratic platforms to be truncated and thwarted by the Government with the aid of a judicial decree. That this unconstitutional and plainly undemocratic order is coming up just days after we celebrated June 12 Democracy Day with a public holiday and hollow fanfare and national awards."

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That this unconstitutional and plainly undemocratic order is coming up just days after we celebrated June 12 Democracy Day with a public holiday and hollow fanfare and national awards.

Although the SDP is not among the parties reportedly affected by the court order, Adebayo emphasized that remaining silent would compromise democratic principles. He urged Nigerians and democracy advocates to stand in solidarity with the affected parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Action Alliance, Action People's Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party. Adebayo pledged to offer legal and political support to these parties in their efforts to challenge the deregistration order through lawful means.

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The fact that my political party, the SDP, is not affected by this unfortunate situation does not excuse my silence in the face of injustice. All lovers of democracy must stand strongly and solidly in solidarity with the African Democratic Congress, Action Alliance, Action People's Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party.

Furthermore, the SDP candidate advocated for constitutional reforms to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) power to register and deregister political parties. He proposed an alternative system where political associations could freely field candidates upon payment of statutory deposits, which would be forfeited if they failed to achieve a minimum vote threshold.

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I therefore offer myself to all those affected political parties to pursue justice and restoration through all legitimate means. I also include in my presidential agenda the need to defang the