Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to weaken Nigeria’s opposition and steer the country towards a one-party state following a Federal High Court ruling that set aside an earlier judgment directing the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
Atiku’s reaction came after the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, vacated its December 10, 2025 judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Isah Dashen held that the Peace Movement Party should have been joined in the suit because its interests were directly affected by the case. The court subsequently restored the status quo and ordered a fresh hearing involving all necessary parties.
Responding in a statement issued on Saturday, Atiku described the court’s decision as evidence of what he termed the Tinubu administration’s efforts to undermine democratic competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of President Tinubu, who pretends to be a democrat, but whose actions and those of his agents contradict his professed commitment to free and fair elections,” the former vice president said.
According to Atiku, the ability of citizens to participate in free, fair and credible elections remains the foundation of democracy, warning that any attempt to restrict political participation or limit voters’ choices could threaten the country’s democratic stability.
He also alleged that the President had departed from the democratic ideals he championed during Nigeria’s military era, arguing that no government should seek to impose itself on the electorate while claiming to support transparent elections.
Atiku urged Tinubu to emulate former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, whom he said allowed opposition parties to operate freely despite intense political rivalry, adding that a government confident in its performance should not fear electoral competition.
“If you’re truly popular and your policies have positively improved the lives of Nigerians, you should have nothing to fear from a free and fair contest,” he stated.
The former presidential candidate further called on the judiciary to remain independent and resist any form of political pressure.
