The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has asked President Bola Bola Tinubu to learn from former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, saying they never deregistered opposition political parties.

Atiku made the call on Saturday in reaction to an attempt to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, through the courts.

The former Vice President said attempts to restrict political competition run contrary to democratic principles and could erode public confidence in the electoral process.

“Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari never deregistered opposition political parties. Copy and learn from them.

“If you’re truly popular and your policies have positively bettered the lives of the citizens, you shouldn’t be afraid of a free and fair competition,” Atiku said.

A member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Taofeek Mustapha, was shot on Saturday by suspected political thugs in Osogbo.

This is as the state governorship election scheduled to take place in August draws closer.

The State Police Command confirmed the incident which happened in the Oluode-Aranyin area of the state.

The attack is said to have heightened concerns as rival political camps clash across the state.

The victim, who survived the shooting pointed out that he was targeted by the thugs because he was wearing a political cap associated with the APC candidate.

“I put on the AMBO crested cap when the shooting occurred. Everyone ran to safety and they pursued me because I was wearing the APC candidate cap. I did not wait but was shot. I cried for help before they retrieved back into the vehicle and drove away,” he said.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that an official investigation has already commenced to unravel those behind the attack.

Recall that the police, alongside other security agencies and electoral stakeholders, convened a peace meeting to encourage political parties to commit to a peaceful campaign and election.

However, the ruling Accord Party and the APC did not show up for the meeting.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, says Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of president Bola Tinubu.

Atiku said this in a statement on Saturday in reaction to the court’s judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

He accused Tinubu of attempting to undermine Nigeria’s democracy through a plot to deregister the NDC, warning that such a move could pave the way for a one-party state.

The former Vice President described the  attempt to deregister the opposition party through judicial means as evidence of what he called the administration’s determination to weaken political opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said any effort to restrict political competition or limit citizens’ choices at the ballot box poses a serious threat to democratic governance and national stability.

According to him, the development did not come as a surprise, arguing that recent actions and political signals from the current administration have raised concerns about its commitment to democratic principles.

“Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of President Tinubu, who pretends to be a democrat, but his body language and the sinister activities of his agents contradict his mouthed commitment to free and fair elections,” he said.