By Gabriel Ameh
Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned what he described as sustained efforts to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that any attempt to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement, Adeyanju argued that no democratic government should seek to govern in an environment where credible opposition parties are weakened or eliminated. He maintained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be willing to face all qualified political parties at the polls if his administration has genuinely earned the trust and confidence of Nigerians.
According to him, democratic legitimacy is strengthened through open political competition rather than by limiting the participation of opposition parties.
Adeyanju further warned that any action aimed at crippling viable political alternatives, whether directly or indirectly, could damage Nigeria’s democratic credentials and international reputation.
He noted that shrinking the country’s democratic space would send negative signals to investors, development partners and the global community, raising concerns about Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance.
“The electorate alone should determine who governs the country through free and fair elections, not institutions or individuals seeking to influence the political landscape,” he stated.
The activist stressed that every lawfully registered political party has the constitutional right to exist, campaign and test its popularity before the Nigerian electorate.
He cautioned that reducing Nigeria’s democracy to a system where election outcomes appear predetermined by the weakening of opposition parties would undermine public confidence in the electoral process and the nation’s democratic institutions.
Adeyanju called on all stakeholders to protect Nigeria’s democratic space by ensuring that every eligible political party is allowed to participate freely in the country’s electoral process.
