Deregistration: Tinubu Pushing Nigeria Toward One-Party State – Atiku

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused President Bola Tinubu of trying to undermine political opposition and push Nigeria toward becoming a one-party state.

Atiku, a two-term Vice President of Nigeria, made this remark in reaction to a ruling by the federal high court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which vacated its December 10, 2025, judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

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.

The former People Democratic Party (PDP) noted that any attempt to limit political competition or reduce voters’ choices poses a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

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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.

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.

“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.

“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 has 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.

“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.