The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to challenge a Federal High Court judgment reportedly ordering the deregistration of the party and four others.
The party accused unnamed forces within the ruling establishment of attempting to use the judiciary to weaken opposition politics.
In a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports, the party described the ruling attributed to Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
The party also announced plans to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the conduct of the trial judge, alleging breaches of judicial procedure.
While calling on its members and supporters to remain calm, the ADC expressed confidence that the ruling would be overturned and reiterated its determination to contest the 2027 elections.
“Whatever it takes, the ADC will be on the ballot so long as the 2027 election is to hold,” the party stated.
The ADC argued that the judgment contradicted the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which it said had informed the court that the party had not violated any constitutional or electoral requirements warranting deregistration.
According to the party, INEC maintained in its court filings that there were no legally recognised grounds for the ADC’s deregistration and that such action could only be taken based on constitutional provisions.
The opposition party also questioned the validity of the judgment, alleging that it was delivered despite a subsisting Court of Appeal order directing a stay of proceedings in the matter pending the determination of an appeal.
The ADC further alleged that individuals linked to the ruling party had played a role in advancing the suit and described the Attorney-General of the Federation’s involvement in the matter as unusual.
The party claimed that the timing of the ruling was significant, coming after it had concluded its primaries and begun preparations for the 2027 general election.
“It is clear what this is all about,” the statement said, alleging that efforts were being made to weaken the opposition and limit political competition ahead of the next election cycle.
Warning against what it described as attempts to narrow the democratic space, the ADC said any move to eliminate a major opposition party through judicial means could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The party maintained that the issue extended beyond party registration and touched on the broader question of whether Nigerians would be presented with genuine political choices in 2027.
The ADC vowed to defend the rights of its candidates, members and supporters, insisting that it would remain a participant in the next general election.
“We reject any and all attempts to intimidate, suppress, deregister, or politically extinguish our party and other opposition parties through means that offend both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution,” the statement said.
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