Timi Frank, former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said the recent Abuja High Court judgment deregistering the African Democratic Congress and political parties is a recipe for an incoming national crisis nationwide. 

Recall that Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Abuja, in a ruling on Monday, had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the Democratic Congress, ADC, Accord Party, and others from participating in the 2027 general election. 

The judgment had stirred concerns among Nigerians. 

ADC, however, announced a plan to appeal the judgment. 

 Reacting to the judgment, Timi Frank, in a statement on Monday, said it was an attempt to eliminate major opposition platforms, noting that it could trigger a national crisis and undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations.

He called on President Donald Trump of the United States and members of the international community to urgently intervene to preserve Nigeria’s multiparty democracy alive. 

“The judgment came suddenly without prior notice to the parties involved. From the information available to us, it appeared that the judgment had been prepared elsewhere and simply delivered by the court,” he alleged.

“Nobody knew about it. There was no information and no briefing, even to the lawyers representing the parties. The judgment was given suddenly. It was something they plotted and cooked up to make it look legitimate without even notifying the parties involved,” Frank alleged.

He described the ruling as a “mystery judgment.” Frank alleged that it was orchestrated to achieve a predetermined political outcome.

“From the information we received, the judgment was written elsewhere and handed to the judge. The Office of the Attorney General wrote the script, and the judge merely played out that script,” he alleged.

Frank further alleged that the reported move to deregister opposition parties was part of a broader campaign to weaken political opposition and consolidate power.

“It must be noted that any attempt by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and those working with him to deregister political parties, particularly major opposition parties such as the ADC, will give rise to a crisis that may be difficult to contain,” he said.

“The time has come for all lovers of democracy to rise in defense of the democratic gains Nigerians have fought hard to achieve. Silence in the face of these developments could have far-reaching consequences for the future of our country,” he said.

A former House of Representatives aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ife Federal Constituency, Hon. Kunle Ayoola, has resigned from the party and defected to the Accord Party.

Ayoola, who was considered one of the prominent contenders for the APC ticket ahead of the party’s primary election, had contested for the Ife Federal Constituency seat before the ticket was eventually won by Hon. Taofeek Ajilesoro.

His resignation was conveyed in a letter dated June 12, 2026, and addressed to the APC chairman of Ilode Ward 1 in Ife East Local Government Area.

In the letter, Ayoola explained that he decided to end his membership of the APC due to what he described as ongoing concerns over the party’s leadership style, internal democracy, transparency and treatment of members.

According to him, he had become increasingly dissatisfied with the direction of the party over the years.

“Over the years, I have become increasingly disappointed by what I perceive as lack of good leadership, the prevalence of dictatorial tendencies, inadequate consultation, and absence of proper dialogue on important party matters.

“Decisions are often taken without meaningful engagement with members, creating an environment that discourages participation and constructive contributions,” the letter partly read.

The politician also raised concerns over alleged corruption, favouritism and lack of accountability within the party, stating that such practices had diminished his confidence in the APC’s commitment to fairness and democratic values.

“I am also deeply concerned about issues of corruption, favouritism, and lack of accountability within the party. These practices have weakened my confidence in the party’s commitment to fairness, justice, and democratic principles,” he stated.

Ayoola further expressed displeasure over his experience during the APC primary election for the Ife Federal House of Representatives seat, alleging that he was treated unfairly despite his loyalty and contributions to the party.

“On a personal level, I feel particularly aggrieved by the disrespect and unfair treatment I received during the party’s primary election when I contested for the Ife Federal House of Representatives seat.

“Despite my commitment, loyalty, and contributions to the party, I was subjected to actions and decisions that I believe were unjust, disrespectful, and inconsistent with the principles of fairness and internal democracy that a political party should uphold. The manner in which the process was conducted left me feeling marginalised and undervalued,” Ayoola added.

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Najeem Salaam, have separately rejected recent Federal High Court judgments affecting their political interests.

Both described the rulings as miscarriages of justice and vowed to pursue appeals.

The APC faulted a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo in a suit filed by reinstated local government chairmen and councillors elected in October 2022, while Salaam criticised a separate ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the deregistration of the ADC alongside some other political parties.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC said the Osogbo court erred in dismissing the suit filed by the reinstated local government officials and ruling that the tenure of the elected officers ended in October 2025.

The party maintained that the judgment would be challenged at the Court of Appeal, saying: “The Federal High Court verdict is a miscarriage of justice, and we shall put the judgment to the test at the appropriate venue. The reinstated chairmen and councillors have already filed a notice of appeal alongside a motion for stay of execution.”

The party argued that no enforcement process should be commenced against the officials until the appeal has been finally determined and urged its members and supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the judicial process.

The APC also cautioned against actions capable of causing unrest and called on security agencies to remain vigilant. It alleged that some political actors were attempting to create tension over the court ruling and urged the public to exercise restraint pending the determination of the appeal.

Meanwhile, Salaam described the Abuja Federal High Court ruling ordering the deregistration of the ADC as neither the end of the legal process nor the end of the party’s political journey.

He expressed confidence that the judgment would be overturned through constitutional means.

“I have received the news of the Federal High Court judgment purportedly ordering the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, alongside some other political parties. Democracy is governed by the rule of law, and our Constitution provides clear avenues for appeal and judicial review.”

He added: “We are confident that the appropriate legal processes will correct any miscarriage of justice and protect the democratic rights of millions of Nigerians who have chosen the ADC as their political platform.”

Salaam urged party members and supporters across Osun State not to panic, insisting that the ADC remained committed to participating in the August 15 governorship election.

He described the party as a movement driven by aspirations for transparent governance, economic growth, quality education, and improved healthcare.

The ADC candidate said the party’s campaign would continue uninterrupted, noting that support from workers, farmers, artisans, students, youths, women, and professionals across the state reflected confidence in its vision for Osun.