Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has voiced concern over a Federal High Court ruling nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that uncertainty so close to the 2027 election undermines democracy.
In a statement, Obi said he received the news “with shock” and called the order, which also voided all actions taken by the ADC chairman, “unsettling and surprising”.
“Certainty” before the polls
Obi stressed that he was not challenging the court’s decision. “I do not challenge the ruling of the court. The court of law is constituted to determine disputes according to the law,” he said.
His concern, he said, was the timing. “Three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty. It is not good to have too many uncertainties about candidates and parties a few weeks before a presidential election.”
Accuses ruling party
Obi accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of engineering the instability. “This instability is obviously engineered by the ruling party, just as they have done against me in the Labour Party and continue to do so to close down civic space for a robust campaign,” he said.
He added: “It is also from the same rulebook that manufactures violence against us in our campaigns.”
“Voters and not courts”
“One mark of democracy is that at all times, it is voters and not courts that choose leaders. I trust in the judiciary. As a public officer, I have shown deep respect for the judiciary. I appeal that we protect the integrity of democracy by not undermining the free and fair choice of candidates,” Obi said.
Opposition must thrive
Pointing to what he called “encroaching military rule in West Africa”, Obi said Nigeria’s democratic survival should strengthen the resolve to protect opposition politics and not “stamp out opposition parties”.
He said he had always promised that, as president, he would take a special interest in ensuring opposition parties are stable and thriving, and that opposition candidates are not “persecuted out of electoral contests”.
“This is a time to strengthen our democracy by allowing the opposition to thrive,” he said.
