By NEFISHETU YAKUBU

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the ruling of a Lokoja Federal High Court setting aside its earlier judgment recognising Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, described the court ruling against NDC as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the court had, on Friday, set aside its earlier judgment directing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register NDC as a political party.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Isah Dashen, said that the earlier judgment affecting the rights of Peace Movement Party (PMP) was not included in the case despite claiming ownership of the logo used by NDC.

Abdullahi, in the statement, however, called for judicial independence and warned against weakening opposition through judicial processes.

“The Lokoja Federal High Court’s decision raises serious questions about the state of Nigeria’s democracy,” he stated.

According to him, opposition parties have faced avoidable internal crises through recurring legal disputes and administrative interventions allegedly designed to weaken democratic competition.

“The cumulative effect of these attacks is unmistakable.

“They weaken the opposition, narrow democratic space and strengthen those already holding political power,” Abdullahi said.

While arguing that the matter extended beyond partisan interests, he said that prolonged legal uncertainty could undermine Nigerians’ constitutional right to freely choose credible political alternatives.

“Democracy is sustained by fair competition, institutional neutrality and equal treatment under the law. This has not been the case,” he added.

The ADC spokesperson stated that with barely seven months to the general elections, every action undermining electoral credibility deserved close scrutiny by citizens and democratic institutions.

“The judiciary remains one of democracy’s last lines of defence and must never appear to settle political contests,” he stated.

Abdullahi maintained that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done, cautioning against perceptions of partisan judicial interference in politics.

He called on opposition parties, civil society organisations, organised labour, the legal community, media practitioners and Nigerians in general to unite in defending constitutional democracy.

“Yesterday’s target was the NDC. Tomorrow, it could be anyone offering Nigerians an alternative. We must defend democratic space before it disappears,” the ADC spokesman said.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist attempts to intimidate, weaken or silence legitimate opposition voices ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

According to Abdullahi, the constitution guarantees freedom of association, political participation and citizens’ rights to freely elect leaders, describing those provisions as enduring constitutional provisions.

He said that ADC would continue to stand firmly with Nigerians in defending constitutional democracy. (NAN)

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