Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist, has condemned alleged moves to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
This is as he described the development as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, just as he warned against any attempt to weaken viable political opposition.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Adeyanju said, “The ongoing and unrelenting efforts to deregister the two major opposition political parties expected to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election are condemnable and are a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.”
He argued that a healthy democracy depends on the existence of strong opposition parties capable of offering Nigerians credible alternatives during elections, stressing that no government should seek to undermine that process.
“No President should seek to govern in an atmosphere where viable political opposition is weakened or eliminated. President Tinubu does not need to go into the next election without credible challengers to secure a legitimate victory.” He said
Adeyanju maintained that if the current administration has performed well and enjoys the support of the electorate, it should have no reason to fear political competition at the polls.
He added, “If his administration has earned the confidence of Nigerians, it should be prepared to face every qualified political party at the ballot box. Legitimacy is strengthened by competition, not by the absence of it.”
The activist further warned that any attempt to weaken opposition parties could have wider implications beyond domestic politics, including damaging Nigeria’s democratic credentials in the eyes of the international community.
He said, “Those behind any actions designed to weaken or cripple the opposition, whether directly or indirectly, should remember that they do not merely damage political parties but risk damaging Nigeria’s international reputation. A nation that is perceived as shrinking its democratic space sends the wrong signal to investors and the global community.”
Adeyanju also cautioned against creating a political environment where elections appear predetermined because of the systematic weakening of alternative political platforms.
“Nigeria’s democracy must never be reduced to a system where the outcome of elections appears predetermined by the weakening of political alternatives. Every lawful political party has a right to exist, to campaign and to test its popularity before the Nigerian people. It is the electorate who should decide who governs our country and nobody else.” He said
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