The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the decision of the Lokoja Federal High Court to set aside its earlier judgment recognising the NDC, describing the ruling as part of what it called a broader pattern of actions aimed at weakening opposition parties ahead of the general election.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the development raises concerns about the state of Nigeria's democracy and urged the judiciary to remain independent and impartial.
"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," Abdullahi said.
The ADC argued that repeated legal disputes involving opposition parties could undermine public confidence in the electoral process, particularly with less than seven months to the general election.
According to the party, the issue extends beyond the fortunes of any single political party and concerns the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely choose among credible political alternatives.
"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," the statement read.
The party also cautioned against any perception that the judiciary is being used to settle political disputes in favour of those in power.
"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," Abdullahi stated.
Calling for a united response, the ADC urged opposition parties, civil society organisations, the legal community, organised labour, the media, and Nigerians to defend the country's democratic institutions.
"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 party maintained that the Constitution guarantees freedom of association, political participation, and the right of citizens to choose their leaders, adding that those rights "are not concessions from any government; they are constitutional guarantees that must be defended by all."
The ADC said it would continue to oppose what it described as attempts to weaken the opposition and reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.
