NDC Deregistration: Nigerians Seeing Tinubu’s True Colours — Atiku

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to weaken Nigeria’s democracy through what he described as efforts to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Atiku made the allegation in a statement issued on Saturday by his media office in Abuja, warning that any move to eliminate opposition parties could pave the way for a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general election.

The statement, which was also shared on X by his aide, Paul Ibe, described the reported attempt to deregister the NDC through judicial processes as a deliberate effort to undermine political competition.

According to Atiku, restricting citizens’ choices at the ballot box poses a serious threat to democratic governance and national stability.

“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.

The former vice president argued that democracy thrives on free participation and credible elections, warning that any attempt to suppress opposition parties could create political instability.

“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,” he stated.

Atiku urged Tinubu to emulate former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, noting that neither administration sought 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.

He also accused the President of abandoning the democratic ideals he once championed during the military era.

“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,” Atiku added.

The former vice president further called on the judiciary to remain independent and resist political pressure, warning against allowing courts to become instruments of partisan interests.

His remarks followed Friday’s Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC, ordering that the substantive case be heard afresh with all relevant parties joined.