ADC Backs NDC, Warns: ‘Today It’s NDC, Tomorrow It Could Be Any Opposition Party’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the Federal High Court ruling that set aside an earlier judgment recognising the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), warning that the legal battle extends far beyond a single political party and could threaten Nigeria's democratic space ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the Lokoja court's decision as "yet another troubling development" and cautioned that any opposition party offering Nigerians an alternative could face similar legal uncertainty.

According to the party, the issue is no longer solely about the NDC but about safeguarding constitutional democracy and ensuring that political competition remains fair.

"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," Abdullahi said.

He stressed that the judiciary remains one of the country's most important democratic institutions and warned against any perception that the courts were being used to settle political disputes.

"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 added.

The ADC argued that the NDC's legal challenge reflects a wider pattern affecting opposition parties, alleging that several political parties have recently become entangled in avoidable legal disputes and administrative challenges.

According to the party, such developments weaken opposition politics and reduce the choices available to Nigerian voters.

"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 party added that the issue goes beyond the fortunes of any single political party.

"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," Abdullahi stated.

The ADC also accused the Bola Tinubu administration of failing to guarantee a level political playing field, insisting that democracy can only thrive where institutions remain independent and political competition is conducted fairly.

With fewer than seven months to the 2027 general election, the party said every development capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process deserves close public scrutiny.

It further warned that public confidence in the judiciary could be eroded if Nigerians perceive the courts as instruments for achieving political outcomes rather than impartial arbiters of justice.

The party called on opposition parties, civil society organisations, the legal community, labour unions, the media and other stakeholders to defend Nigeria's constitutional democracy against what it described as attempts to weaken legitimate opposition voices.

"The African Democratic Congress will continue to stand firmly with every Nigerian committed to preserving our democracy and we will continue to resist every attempt to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state in all but name," the statement added.

The ADC's intervention comes a day after the Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside its December 2025 judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party. The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal, insisting that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will remain on the ballot for the 2027 election.