ADC Condemns Lokoja Court Judgment on NDC, Warns Against Threats to Democracy

     

Abuja, Nigeria — June 27, 2026

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside its earlier decision recognising the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), describing the ruling as part of a growing pattern of actions that threaten Nigeria's democracy ahead of the 2026 general election.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that opposition political parties have increasingly been subjected to legal disputes and administrative actions aimed at weakening them and shrinking the country's democratic space.

According to the party, the development goes beyond the interests of any single political party and poses a serious challenge to Nigeria's constitutional democracy.

The ADC argued that sustained legal battles involving opposition parties undermine the ability of Nigerians to freely choose among credible political alternatives, adding that democracy thrives on fair political competition, institutional neutrality, and equal treatment of all political actors under the law.

The party expressed concern that, with less than seven months to the general election, actions capable of eroding public confidence in the electoral process should be subjected to close scrutiny.

It also called on the judiciary to remain independent and impartial, warning that the courts should not be perceived as platforms for resolving political contests 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," the statement read.

The ADC further urged opposition parties, civil society organisations, the legal community, organised labour, the media, and Nigerians committed to democratic governance to unite in defence of the country's democratic institutions.

The party warned that today's developments affecting the NDC could set a precedent for similar actions against other opposition groups if Nigerians fail to defend the nation's democratic space.

Reaffirming its commitment to constitutional democracy, the ADC said it would continue to resist what it described as attempts to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.

The party also stressed that the Constitution guarantees citizens the rights to freedom of association, political participation, and the freedom to choose their leaders, insisting that these rights must be protected by all stakeholders.