Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Plotting One-Party State After Court Voids NDC Registration

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal High Court’s decision to set aside the judgment recognising the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alleging that the development is part of a broader attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made the allegation in a statement issued by his media office after the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, nullified its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.

The court, presided over by Justice Isah Dashen, ruled that the Peace Movement Party should have been joined in the suit because its interests were directly affected by the case. The ruling effectively restored all parties to the position they occupied before the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment.

Reacting to the development, Atiku said he was not surprised by the decision, claiming it reflects what he described as President Bola Tinubu’s determination to turn Nigeria into a de facto one-party state by frustrating the emergence and growth of opposition political parties.

According to him, the ability of citizens to freely choose among competing political parties remains the cornerstone of democracy, warning that any effort to restrict that choice could undermine Nigeria’s democratic stability.

“Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of President Tinubu, who pretends to be a democrat, but his body language and the sinister activities of his agents contradict his mouthed commitment to free and fair elections,” Atiku said.

The former vice president urged Tinubu to emulate former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, arguing that neither administration sought to eliminate opposition parties despite intense political competition.

“If you’re truly popular and your policies have positively bettered the lives of the citizens, you shouldn’t be afraid of a free and fair competition,” he stated.

Atiku also called on members of the judiciary to remain independent and resist political pressure, warning that the integrity of the courts must not be compromised for partisan interests.

He stressed that while governments come and go, the judiciary must continue to uphold justice and protect public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, describing the courts as the last hope of ordinary citizens.

The court ruling has added another layer to the growing political debate ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition figures increasingly raising concerns over the country’s democratic space, while the Federal Government has repeatedly maintained its commitment to free, fair and credible elections.