The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly criticized the recent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that using the judiciary to destabilize opposition parties just three months before the general election severely undermines Nigerian democracy.
In a statement issued via his Facebook page, Obi expressed profound shock and concern over the timing of the judgement, which invalidates the emergence of the ADC Chairman and all subsequent actions taken by his leadership.
While maintaining his respect for the judiciary, the former Anambra State governor argued that engineering leadership crises weeks before a critical presidential election introduces dangerous uncertainties into the democratic process.
Obi explicitly pointed the finger at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of executing a calculated strategy to shrink the civic space and dismantle viable alternative political platforms.
“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,” Obi stated. He further linked these legal challenges to a broader pattern of suppression, adding, “It is also from the same rulebook that manufactures violence against us in our campaigns.”
Highlighting a foundational principle of democratic governance, Obi emphasized that the ultimate power to choose Nigeria’s leaders must reside with the electorate, not the courtroom.
“One mark of democracy is that at all times, it is voters and not courts that choose leaders,” Obi remarked. He appealed to stakeholders to protect the integrity of the electoral process by allowing free, fair, and unhindered choices of candidates.
Contextualizing Nigeria’s democratic journey within the broader West African landscape—which has seen a worrying resurgence of military coups and encroaching authoritarianism—Obi warned that stamping out opposition voices poses an existential threat to the nation.
He reiterated his governance blueprint, promising that under a Labour Party administration, the survival and vitality of rival political parties would be actively protected rather than persecuted.
“The sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, in the midst of encroaching military rule in West Africa, should strengthen our resolve to protect opposition politics and not stamp out opposition parties,” Obi said. “It is because of the importance of opposition to the sustenance of democracy that I have always promised that, as President, I will take a special interest in ensuring opposition parties are stable and thriving.”
Obi urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in the face of political manipulation, reaffirming his campaign’s core mantra: “A new Nigeria is POssible.”
