Party warns Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party state, says recent court decisions and political developments threaten the country’s democratic future….
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused unnamed forces of orchestrating a sustained campaign to weaken opposition parties ahead of the next general election, warning that Nigeria’s democracy could be at risk if the trend continues.
The party made the allegation in reaction to the Federal High Court in Lokoja’s decision to set aside its earlier judgment recognising the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), describing the ruling as part of a wider pattern aimed at shrinking the country’s democratic space.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said a series of legal and administrative actions against opposition parties raises serious concerns about the future of multiparty democracy in Nigeria.
According to the party, the cumulative effect of such developments is to weaken political opposition while consolidating the position of those already in government.
“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 statement said.
The ADC argued that the controversy surrounding the NDC extends beyond the interests of a single political party, insisting that it directly affects Nigerians’ constitutional right to freely choose among credible political alternatives.
It maintained that when opposition parties are repeatedly distracted by legal disputes and prolonged uncertainty, democratic competition suffers and the electorate ultimately bears the consequences.
The party also accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of creating an uneven political environment, arguing that democracy can only flourish where state institutions remain impartial and all political actors are treated equally under the law.
“This has not been the case under the Bola Tinubu administration,” the statement added.
With the general election drawing closer, the ADC called on the judiciary to safeguard its independence and resist any actions that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Abdullahi stressed that the courts remain one of the last safeguards of Nigeria’s democracy and must never be perceived as instruments for advancing partisan political interests.
“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,” he said.
The party warned that any perception of judicial interference in political matters could have lasting consequences for Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
It also appealed to opposition parties, civil society organisations, labour unions, members of the legal profession, the media and Nigerians at large to unite in defence of constitutional democracy.
“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,” the statement said.
The ADC further urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against any attempt to suppress opposition voices, stressing that freedom of association, political participation and the right of citizens to choose their leaders are constitutional rights that must be protected.
Reaffirming its commitment to Nigeria’s democratic system, the party pledged to continue resisting what it described as attempts to undermine multiparty democracy while standing with all citizens committed to preserving democratic governance.
