The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has criticised the reported judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the deregistration of several political parties, describing the decision as a dangerous development for Nigeria’s democracy and opposition politics.
The judgment reportedly affected the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Alliance (APP), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The ruling followed a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which alleged that the parties failed to meet constitutional and electoral performance requirements.
Reacting to the development, Adebayo warned that shrinking the political space through judicial pronouncements could weaken democratic competition and strengthen the dominance of the ruling establishment, arguing that democracy flourishes when citizens have multiple political choices and opportunities to organise freely.
Adebayi added that democratic governance is sustained by inclusion, diversity of ideas, and robust political participation rather than the systematic reduction of alternatives available to voters, stressing that a healthy political environment requires the presence of viable opposition platforms.
He further contended that removing opposition parties on the basis of performance-related considerations sends troubling signals at a time when many Nigerians are demanding broader political participation and stronger institutional independence.
He also cautioned that such developments could reinforce what he described as the growing influence of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling political structure over the country’s democratic process, adding “excessive concentration of political power could undermine accountability and weaken public trust in electoral competition”.
Adebayo maintained that safeguarding political plurality is essential to preserving democratic values and ensuring citizens retain meaningful electoral choices.
The SDP presidential candidate called on democratic institutions to protect political diversity and ensure that electoral and constitutional mechanisms are not perceived as tools for restricting participation. He also urged Nigerians, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to remain vigilant in defending democratic principles ahead of future elections.
