The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a fierce attack on the Federal High Court ruling reportedly ordering its deregistration, describing the judgment as a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy and warning that any attempt to remove a major opposition party through the courts could plunge the country into a dangerous political crisis.
In a strongly worded statement, the party condemned the decision attributed to Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, calling it “reckless, provocative and incendiary” and accusing the judge of undermining constitutional democracy.
The ADC said the ruling goes beyond a routine legal dispute and represents what it believes is a calculated attempt to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the party, the judgment is particularly troubling because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the constitutional body responsible for the registration and regulation of political parties, had already informed the court that the ADC had not breached any constitutional provision that would justify deregistration.
The party noted that INEC’s counter-affidavit reportedly affirmed that the ADC remained compliant with all legal and electoral requirements and that no constitutionally recognized basis existed for its removal from Nigeria’s political landscape.
Despite this position, the court reportedly proceeded to order the party’s deregistration, a move the ADC said raises serious concerns about the integrity of the judicial process.
The opposition party further alleged that Justice Lifu ignored a subsisting Court of Appeal order issued on May 22, 2026, which directed a stay of proceedings in the matter.
ADC described the alleged disregard of the appellate court’s directive as a dangerous precedent capable of eroding public confidence in the judiciary and weakening respect for the rule of law.
The party warned that the consequences of the ruling could extend far beyond the ADC itself, threatening the foundations of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
According to the party, eliminating a major opposition platform through judicial intervention would amount to disenfranchising millions of Nigerians and sabotaging the political aspirations of hundreds of candidates who have already emerged through the party’s primary election process.
The ADC argued that such actions could dangerously shrink the democratic space, deprive voters of genuine electoral choices, and create conditions for political instability.
“Any attempt to eliminate the country’s major opposition party through judicial manoeuvring is a direct invitation to anarchy,” the party warned.
The ADC also linked the ruling to what it described as a broader pattern of efforts aimed at weakening opposition parties across the country. It alleged that individuals connected to the Presidency had actively supported the case and questioned the involvement of the Attorney-General of the Federation in the matter.
The party maintained that the timing of the judgment was highly suspicious, coming shortly after it successfully concluded its primaries and nominated candidates for all elective positions, including the presidential election.
Warning that those behind the move were “playing with fire,” the ADC said any attempt to manipulate state institutions to suppress political competition could trigger serious consequences for national stability.
The party stressed that at a time when Nigerians are grappling with severe economic hardship, rising insecurity, unemployment and widespread frustration, the focus of government should be on addressing the nation’s challenges rather than targeting opposition parties.
ADC vowed to resist what it described as an assault on democracy through all lawful means and urged Nigerians, civil society organizations and democratic stakeholders to defend the country’s democratic institutions.
The party insisted that the battle was no longer merely about the future of the ADC but about protecting Nigeria’s constitutional order, political freedoms and the right of citizens to freely choose among competing political alternatives.
