Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Salihu Lukman, the chairman of the Coalition for Democracy, has cautioned that the Federal High Court ruling impacting the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, or ADC, may jeopardise the existence of opposition parties.
According to Lukman, the ruling, which allegedly nullified the party’s presidential ticket and disbanded the Mark-led ADC leadership, was a risky step in what he called a methodical effort to eradicate legitimate political opposition in Nigeria.
He argued that an attack on the ADC today may happen to any other political party tomorrow and cautioned that the occurrence could set a precedent for other opposition groups.
On behalf of the Coalition for Democracy, Lukman made a statement on Friday.He claims that the ruling has heightened worries about Nigeria’s diminishing democratic space, especially in light of claimed attacks on opposition supporters, limitations on political activity, and the use of state institutions against political rivals.The Coalition for Democracy viewed the Federal High Court’s ruling on Thursday, which purported to invalidate the African Democratic Congress’s (ADC) presidential candidature and dissolve its leadership led by Senator David Mark, as a risky step in what seems to be a deliberate effort to eradicate legitimate political opposition before the 2027 general elections, he said.
The leader of the coalition questioned whether the ruling party was still prepared to permit significant political competition, contending that institutional measures shouldn’t be used to keep opposition parties from taking part in elections.
Lukman warned against the courts being used as tools to stifle political competition, even while the coalition recognised the independence of the judiciary and the right of harmed parties to pursue legal recourse.It is important for those who aim to eliminate the opposition in order to secure their own victory to realise that they are endangering not just political parties but the Republic’s fundamental principles.He declared, “A government has lost the moral authority to call itself democratic if it cannot tolerate opposition.”
Lukman emphasised that democracy cannot flourish in the absence of viable political alternatives and cautioned that additional restrictions on democratic space could have detrimental effects on national stability.
Instead of using what he called “institutional manipulation,” he insisted that elections must continue to be the legal means by which political parties vie for control.Voting must continue to be the democratic battlefield. He continued, “No political party should be permitted to accomplish through institutional manipulation what it believes it cannot accomplish through Nigerian votes.”
As a result, the coalition expressed support for the ADC’s determination to contest the ruling through the proper legal channels.
Additionally, it called on opposition political parties, civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, organised labour, the media, and Nigerians to band together in order to peacefully and legally oppose any measures that would jeopardise democratic pluralism.
According to Lukman, the alliance will not permit Nigeria to develop into a democracy in the absence of opposition, elections with no alternatives, or votes with no real options.An assault on one is an assault on everyone. Together, we’ll fight it,” he said.
Remember that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership led by David Mark was fired by the Federal High Court in Abuja?
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu’s administration, according to ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, are in a panic, which is why the court ruling was made.
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