Former presidential media aide and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bashir Ahmad, has said the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, should be worried about the move to de-register the party.

DAILY POST reports that the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Friday set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.

The ruling followed an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which asked that the December 2025 judgment be set aside because it was not joined in the suit.

In his judgment, Justice Isah Dashen declared that all relevant parties must be heard before any substantive decision can be made in the matter.

Reacting, Bashir, in a post on his official X handle, said Obi and Kwankwaso should be worried, stating that the two politicians currently have no legally recognised platform on which to contest the next election.

He wrote, “Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi have every reason to be worried.

“As things stand today, they have no legally recognised platform on which to pursue their political ambitions, as the NDC is not recognised by law.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the Federal High Court’s order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a setback for Nigeria’s democracy.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the judgment but condemned what it described as the implications of the court order.

“While we await the Certified True Copy of the judgment, we express our profound condemnation of the implications of the court order, which further constricts the democratic space in our country. This is particularly disturbing, coming after Nigerians had expended their resources to aspire to various elective offices under the platform of the NDC. This order is not only an asphyxiation of multiparty democracy in Nigeria but also an economic crime against Nigerians who invested in the party,” PDP said.

According to the PDP, the ruling further narrows Nigeria’s democratic space, particularly after many Nigerians had invested resources to contest elective offices on the platform of the NDC.

The party argued that the order weakens multiparty democracy and amounts to an economic loss for party members and supporters who committed resources to the NDC.

The PDP also alleged that the development aligns with what it described as the ruling APC-led Federal Government’s efforts to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It claimed the government was unwilling to allow the emergence and survival of a strong opposition capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The opposition party further accused the Federal Government of undermining fair political competition, saying recent developments reflect a disregard for democratic principles.

The PDP urged the NDC leadership to challenge the court order through legal means while seeking the support of Nigerians in what it described as the struggle to protect and strengthen democracy.

It also called on the Federal Government to take practical steps to reduce political tension in the country in the interest of peace, stability and democratic consolidation.

Former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has said that forces from the Federal Government were working to stop him from being on the ballot in 2027.

Obi, who was a guest speaker at a leadership programme hosted by a group, NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative on Friday at Madonna University Okija, Anambra State, also challenged all those aspiring to be President of Nigeria, including President Bola Tinubu to a debate, insisting that he is the most qualified of all of them.

Obi also reacted to the judgment of a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside its earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the NDC as a political party.

Speaking to students, Obi said: “If you know what they are doing to ensure that I’m not on the ballot in 2027, you will be surprised. Nigerian government is doing everything to ensure that I do not contest in this election, but I’m not looking at the obstacles but at the destination.

“I’m rather focussed at the fruitfulness of the destination and that is what keeps me going.

“I’m not desperate to be Nigerian President but desperate to see Nigeria work. Go and obtain your PVC. If you don’t vote, you are hurting your future. When you have your PVC, do not vote for me because I’m an Igbo man. I’m not contesting election because I’m an igbo man, but vote for me because I’m the most qualified.

“I challenge any of those contesting to a debate to say what they want to do for this country, including President Bola Tinubu. I’m not saying it to make you happy but to change Nigeria and make it work.

“It is not about Igbo people but I want a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. We want a country that will work. The greatest beneficiaries of my presidency will be the north.

“I will fight to make Nigeria better and end the criminality in Nigeria. There is insecurity in the entire country and everyone is involved, so I want to build a country that works.”

Obi insisted that Nigeria’s problem was lack of commitment by leaders, saying that some forces who he described as reactionary forces were bent on holding the country down.

Speaking on the deregistration of the NDC, Obi said, “They can not stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you it is not the end of the road. We are committed to this democracy and those who want to kill this democracy are trying to hurt the society.

“The reactionary elements in Nigeria, those who are bent on holding Nigeria down do not want it to work but I can assure you it would work. I have confidence that I will pull through because the will of the people must prevail.

“No where is safe in Nigeria today, yet the people who should help salvage the country are bent on hurting our democracy. My message to all those who mean well for Nigeria and not just my supporters is for us to remain peaceful and continue to resist this tragedy being imposed on Nigeria.”