The Kwankwasiyya Movement has issued a stern warning against any attempt to cripple opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.

The group, in a statement, said the court judgment against the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, raised troubling questions about Nigeria’s democratic integrity.

It stated that the judgment, which set aside an earlier order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the NDC, had deepened fears that powerful interests were working to shrink the democratic space before the next election.

The movement said it respected the judiciary as the final arbiter in legal disputes but maintained that the judgment had serious implications for political pluralism.

It further noted that millions of Nigerians are yearning for credible alternatives to the current administration and must not be denied the right to freely choose from a broad field of political options.

According to the movement, the timing of the case had fuelled suspicion, especially as INEC had already commenced activities under its timetable for the 2027 general election, including processes leading to party nominations and the submission of candidates.

“We’ll resist any plot to cripple the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. The litigation has suddenly assumed renewed urgency precisely when the Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced activities under the timetable for the 2027 general elections, including processes leading to party nominations and candidate submissions,” the statement said.

The senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh, has dismissed the claims of the Peace Movement Party (PMP) over ownership of the “V for Victory” sign, describing it as a universal symbol that cannot be monopolised by an unregistered political association.

Umeh, who spoke to journalists, said exclusive rights to political party names, logos and symbols are conferred only by law and regulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The senator, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), explained that a symbol or logo becomes the legally protected property of a political party only after the party has been duly registered by INEC.

“The logo does not belong to the PMP because it is not a registered political party,” Umeh said. “A symbol becomes exclusive to a party only upon formal registration with INEC.”

He added that the “V for Victory” sign is a globally recognised symbol that has historically been used by leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

According to him, the gesture cannot be appropriated by an unregistered group to prevent a duly registered political party from using it.

The controversy follows a ruling by the Federal High Court that sought to halt the registration of the NDC. The decision came shortly after prominent opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, aligned with the party.

Umeh described the legal action filed against the NDC following the alignment as a targeted “judicial ambush.”

He further alleged that the PMP was being used as a proxy to frustrate the NDC’s participation in the 2027 general election.

With the NDC’s registration now before the Court of Appeal, party leaders expressed confidence that the appellate court would uphold its right to participate in the 2027 general election.

State governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have reviewed the outcome of the party’s primary elections and resolved to meet the party’s National Chairman, Netanwe Yilwatda and other important leaders.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) stated that the decision was made during the forum’s meeting, which concluded early on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) says the PGF is a group that includes all the current APC governors.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Uzodimma said that the governors also decided to work hard to make sure Nigerians are in a better situation.

He mentioned that the meeting looked at the results from the party’s primaries throughout the federation, the recent Ekiti governorship election, and several by-elections where the APC performed very well.

“We are determined to work on solving the issues and difficulties in our democratic system and making sure our people are in a better situation.

“We also decided to meet with the party’s leaders to plan for the upcoming 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.”

The PGF chairman said the forum also decided to keep working with the APC leadership to help, support, and make them stronger and ready for the future elections.

The meeting had governors from Ekiti, Zamfara, Taraba, Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, and Borno states, along with others.