Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, has launched a scathing attack on a court judgment ordering the deregistration of his party and several opposition groups. He called it an authoritarian assault on Nigeria's democratic system.
In a statement released by his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku warned that the ruling should concern every Nigerian who values democracy and the rule of law. He described the decision as deeply troubling for the nation.
According to Atiku, the judgment was handed down despite an existing Court of Appeal order that halted proceedings in the case. That stay order, granted on May 22, 2026, should have frozen all further action in the matter.
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, explicitly ordered that no steps be taken until it heard arguments on appeal. Atiku noted that delivering judgment violated that clear directive.
"A stay of proceedings means precisely what it says," Atiku noted in his statement. "It freezes every further step in the matter, including the delivery of judgment."
He argued that ignoring an appellate court order raises serious questions about respect for judicial hierarchy. The action, he said, undermines the very concept of legal certainty in Nigeria.
Atiku sees this judgment as part of a larger strategy to weaken opposition before 2027. He believes the Tinubu administration is deliberately targeting opposition parties instead of addressing real national problems.
"Rather than confronting mounting crises facing the nation, the government appears consumed by eliminating viable opposition platforms," Atiku said. Security challenges, economic hardship, and unemployment continue to plague ordinary Nigerians, he added.
The former Vice President accused authorities of deploying state power for political survival rather than national development. He described the pattern as "political elimination by other means."
Atiku rejected suggestions that the ADC would be discouraged by the ruling. He vowed to continue fighting for democratic principles.
"We will not be intimidated by these desperate manoeuvres," he stated through his spokesman. The battle ahead transcends party politics, he insisted.
According to Atiku, the fundamental issue is about protecting Nigeria's democracy itself. It's a conflict between those who champion freedom of choice and those seeking political control, he argued.
Members of the ADC and democracy advocates across Nigeria should remain steadfast, Atiku urged. The struggle for genuine democratic competition is far from over.
Atiku's statement represents the strongest pushback yet from opposition quarters against judicial decisions targeting opposition parties. His comments reflect growing tensions between the executive and judicial branches on political matters.
The deregistration ruling has sparked significant debate within Nigeria's political and legal circles. Many observers worry about implications for the country's democratic future.
