Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has accused President
Bola Tinubu of attempting to weaken political opposition and steer Nigeria
towards a one-party state.
Atiku was reacting to a ruling by the federal high court in
Lokoja, Kogi state, which vacated its December 10, 2025, judgement compelling
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria
Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
Isah Dashen, the presiding judge, held that the Peace
Movement Party ought to have been joined in the suit because its interests were
affected by the case.
He ordered a return to the status quo and directed a fresh
hearing with all necessary parties.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Atiku said the
development showed the “true colours” of the Tinubu administration, which he
accused of undermining democratic competition ahead of the 2027 general
election.
“Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of President
Tinubu, who pretends to be a democrat, but his body language and the sinister
activities of his agents contradict his mouthed commitment to free and fair
elections,” he said.
“Participation of citizens in a free, fair and credible poll
is the soul of democracy, and any attempt to stifle such freedom of choice
could be a trigger to chaos and anarchy.
“Tinubu cannot be a champion of democracy under military
dictatorship and now become the worst enemy of everything that democracy stands
for.
“You can’t attempt to rule the people against their will and
still pretend that you’re committed to free and fair elections in 2027.”
The former vice-president said any attempt to limit
political competition or reduce voters’ choices poses a threat to Nigeria’s
democracy.
He urged Tinubu to emulate former presidents Muhammadu
Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, whom he said did not seek to deregister
opposition parties despite intense political rivalry.
“If you’re truly popular and your policies have positively
bettered the lives of the citizens, you shouldn’t be afraid of a free and fair
competition,” he said.
Atiku also accused the president of abandoning the
democratic ideals he championed during the military era.
He called on the judiciary to resist political pressure and
protect its independence, warning that public confidence in the institution
could be eroded if judges failed to uphold the rule of law.
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