Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has condemned a court ruling which ordered the deregistration of some political parties, describing the development as unconstitutional, undemocratic and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Adebayo, in a post on his X handle, said there was no constitutional, legal or moral justification for alternative political platforms to be suppressed through government action backed by judicial orders.

According to him, the development is particularly troubling as it comes barely days after the nation marked Democracy Day with celebrations, national honors and renewed commitments to democratic values.

He noted that although his party is not among those reportedly affected, remaining silent in the face of injustice would amount to abandoning democratic principles.

The ADP chieftain called on Nigerians and all defenders of democracy to stand in solidarity with the affected parties, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Action Alliance, AA, Action People’s Party, APP, Accord Party, AP, and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.

Adebayo argued that Nigeria’s vast social, cultural, religious, economic and ideological diversity require a broad range of political platforms through which citizens can freely pursue their political aspirations.

He pledged support to the affected parties in their quest for justice and restoration through lawful means, stressing that democratic participation should never be restricted.

The SDP chieftain also advocated constitutional reforms to remove the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register or deregister political parties, limiting the commission’s role to conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

He proposed a system where political associations are free to field candidates, subject to statutory deposits, which parties failing to secure a minimum percentage of votes would forfeit.

Adebayo warned against policies capable of raising political tension in the country, urging leaders to focus on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting national development instead.

Recall that Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court, in a ruling on Monday, had ordered INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Accord Party, and others, and stop them from participating in the 2027 general election.

Senior lawyers on Tuesday tackled Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court over his continued hearing of a suit against the David Mark leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, even after granting an order which proscribed the party on Monday.

The lawyers told the judge that having proscribed the party on Monday in his  judgment, the ADC in the eyes of the law was “dead” and cannot be resurrected by the same judge.

At the resumed hearing of a suit instituted by factional ADC national chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, Dr Suleiman Usman, SAN, who stood for David Mark, Realwan Okpanachi who represented Rauf Aregbesola, and Kalu Agu, counsel for Nkemakolam Ukandu, vehemently demanded to know the status of the party before proceeding in any suit against it.

Their demand was predicated on the judgment the same judge delivered on Monday, which expressly ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately de- register five political parties including ADC.

They claimed that having deregistered ADC on Monday, in the eyes of the law, the party is dead for now and there is nothing for the judge to adjudicate upon.

In the tension soaked arguments, the lawyers insisted that a simple clarification on the status of the party would determine whether they would pack their law books and leave or stay back to speak for their respective clients.

However, Justice Lifu requested to know if the lawyers have obtained the certified true copy of his judgment and digested same, which was answered in the negative.

The judge directed the lawyers to read the judgment first adding that the case of de-registration was quite different from the one challenging David Mark’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Justice Lifu on Tuesday refused to recuse himself from the ADC leadership dispute suit.

Delivering ruling in an application by David Mark and Raul Aregbesola to recuse himself from further presiding over the suit, Justice Lifu dismissed the application for being baseless and unmeritorious.

The judge held that the allegations of likelihood of bias, impartiality and prejudice raised against him by the two defendants were not supported with any cogent and verifiable evidence.

He said that the recusal application was part of the struggles to frustrate speedy hearing of the case as directed by the Supreme Court, adding that he would not succumb to blackmail, intimidation and harassment from any party appearing before him.

“No responsible court of records will dance to the whims and caprices of a litigant. No court must fall to cheap blackmail and intimidation.

“As for me, I can never be intimidated or harassed. A judge must be bold, courageous and firm. This is what I stand for. Court exists to do justice and not to do the bidding of any party,” he said.

Justice Lifu while dismissing the recusal application imposed a fine of N500,000, each, on David Mark and Aregbesola, to be paid to the plaintiff in the case, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Meanwhile, the Judge has fixed June 23, 2026 for further hearing in the matter.

Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described a Federal High Court ruling ordering the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and Accord Party, as a plot to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Olawepo-Hashim said this in a statement on Tuesday, lamenting that the order was a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

According to him, the judgment reinforced concerns he had earlier raised since 2024 about what he described as a coordinated effort to weaken opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He alleged that recent developments in the political space indicate attempts to reduce political competition by weakening opposition parties and their structures.

The Kwara-born politician reiterated that opposition governors have come under pressure to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, while opposition parties have also been weakened by internal disputes and leadership crises.

He equally accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of implementing an electoral timetable he claimed is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, alleging that the commission has failed to make necessary adjustments despite ongoing legal challenges.

“This judgment is a major setback for opposition politics and democratic participation. Nigeria’s democracy is built on multi-party participation and urged stakeholders to protect democratic institutions and ensure electoral integrity.

“I call on political parties, civil society organisations, pro-democracy groups, and citizens to remain actively engaged in defending democratic processes and strengthening the country’s electoral system,” he said.