The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, have criticised Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, warning against actions that could undermine democracy and weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC cautioned the judiciary against allowing itself to be used to frustrate opposition parties and shrink Nigeria’s political space, while Obi expressed concern that the ruling could create uncertainty for political parties preparing for the forthcoming elections.
In a press statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC said the circumstances surrounding the judgment raised concerns about the possible use of the courts to undermine multiparty democracy.
“We have noted the Federal High Court judgment derecognising the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“While we respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, we are concerned that judgments of this nature, if not carefully handled, risk creating the impression that the courts are being used to scuttle democracy and weaken opposition,” the statement said.
The party argued that developments surrounding the ADC leadership crisis could further undermine multiparty democracy, which it said was already under serious threat under the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It urged the judiciary to protect its independence, impartiality and integrity, warning that actions capable of eroding public confidence in the institution should be avoided.
The NDC also called on the ADC to immediately challenge the judgment at the appellate court, urging the court to grant an accelerated hearing in view of the approaching 2027 general elections.
According to the party, resolving the dispute promptly would prevent prolonged uncertainty from discouraging political participation and undermining the democratic process.
Similarly, Obi, in a statement titled ‘Do Not Undermine Democracy’, expressed shock over the judgment, which invalidated the emergence of the Mark-led ADC leadership and the actions taken by the party under its leadership.
The former Anambra State governor, however, said he was not questioning the authority of the judiciary to determine disputes according to the law, but stressed the need for certainty in the political space as the country approaches another general election.
“My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty. It is not good to have too many uncertainties about candidates and parties a few weeks before a presidential election,” he said.
Obi alleged that the instability confronting opposition parties was being engineered by the APC, claiming that similar tactics had previously been deployed against him in the Labour Party.
He accused the ruling party of attempting to shrink the civic space and frustrate opposition campaigns, adding that such developments were accompanied by violence against opposition figures and their supporters.
The NDC presidential candidate maintained that voters, rather than the courts, should ultimately determine who emerges as leaders through democratic elections.
“One mark of democracy is that at all times, it is voters and not courts that choose leaders,” he said.
While reaffirming his confidence in the judiciary, Obi appealed to the courts and other stakeholders to protect democratic institutions and ensure that political actors were not denied the opportunity to participate freely in electoral contests.
He also linked the need to protect opposition politics to the prevailing political situation in West Africa, where several countries have experienced military takeovers, arguing that Nigeria must strengthen its democratic institutions to avoid a reversal of democratic gains.
Obi recalled that he had consistently promised to give special attention to the stability and survival of opposition parties if elected president.
He said his administration would ensure that opposition parties were allowed to thrive and that their candidates were not forced out of electoral contests through persecution.
The two interventions come amid renewed uncertainty over the ADC following the Federal High Court judgment, which invalidated the Mark-led leadership and its actions, raising fresh questions about the party’s political future and its preparations for the 2027 elections.
Both the NDC and Obi called for greater commitment to democratic principles, insisting that the current political climate should provide an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy rather than weaken opposition participation.
“This is a time to strengthen our democracy by allowing the opposition to thrive,” Obi said.
Leave a Reply