The former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has said there is a fresh plot to delist the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

In a statement on Monday, Frank said any move to exclude ADC from the ballot in the coming general election would plunge the country into chaos. 

Frank warned that any attempt to exclude the ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would be heavily resisted by Nigerians. 

“We have been reliably informed of a fresh plot to use the judiciary and INEC to remove the ADC from the ballot come 2027. The ADC has always been the main target.

“The ultimate objective is to ensure that the ADC and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, do not participate in the 2027 election at all costs,” he said.

According to him, any move to delist ADC would damage Nigeria’s democratic image.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and closely monitor what he described as a dangerous pattern being orchestrated by the ruling party in its alleged determination to retain power by every means possible.

“I urge Nigerians to take this warning seriously because a new twist in this plot will soon surface. What is being perfected is a dark agenda designed to silence opposition parties and perpetrate a massive electoral fraud ahead of the 2027 general election,” he alleged.

He further claimed that President Bola was Tinubu’s administration has abandoned democratic norms and is determined to use state institutions and apparatus to destroy opposition parties, especially the ADC.

“I call on the international community, especially the United States’ government, to intervene and ensure that Nigeria does not descend into crisis because of the desperation of those in power.

“The current administration has thrown decorum to the wind and appears determined to truncate democracy for selfish political interests by deploying state institutions against the opposition,” he said.

Frank further warned INEC and the judiciary against becoming “accomplices” in any alleged anti-democratic plot, saying that Nigerians, the international community, and posterity would hold them accountable for their actions.

“We are already aware of what is being planned. Those behind this conspiracy within the presidency are known to us, and their identities will be made available to the international community as individuals who enabled impunity and democratic barbarism in Nigeria,” he declared.

“Nigeria’s democracy must not be disrupted by the desperation of a few individuals who are determined to hold on to power at all costs,” he said.

Frank’s comment comes after Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the ADC, alleged a plot to use the judiciary and other means to delist the party. 

Recall that on Friday last week, a high court in Lokoja set aside the earlier judgment that compelled INEC to register it as a political party.

Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has hinted at a coalition, saying it is open to discussions with other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, while expressing hope that any eventual coalition would rally behind the NDC’s candidates.

The national leader of the party, Seriake Dickson, said this in an interview on ‘Sunday Politics’, a programme on Channels Television.

“As an opposition leader, we will be open. Our party, the NDC, will be open to conversations within that space,” he said.

The former Bayelsa State governor, however, pointed out that he or anyone will not pre-empt those discussions, expressing the optimism that whatever discussions take place would lead to the NDC candidates being backed.

According to the serving Bayelsa senator, he was not claiming superiority, noting that after the nomination process had ended, they would move into another phase of discussions.

Recall that the party has recently been faced with an issue as a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi state set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register it as a political party.

Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over a fresh plot to keep the opposition party, the African Democratic Congress, off the ballot in the 2027 general elections. 

In a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, he said elements within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government want to use political and legal machinations to exclude the ADC from the ballot.

Atiku urged its supporters to reject every attempt to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the coming election. 

He noted that the ruling party may conspire against democracy but would not decide. 

“We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative.

“We therefore call on all Nigerians—not just ADC members and supporters— to rise in defence of democracy and reject any attempt by the ruling party to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the next general election.

“Our message to the APC and the hooded men plotting in dark chambers is simple: you may conspire, but you will not succeed. If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?” Atiku queried.