Atiku Blasts ADC Deregistration Ruling, Calls It Judicial Rascality

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar says court judgment targets opposition and fuels fears of a one-party state.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the Federal High Court judgement, which ordered INEC to deregister the party, describing it as judicial rascality.

In a statement on X, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, described the ruling as the manifestation of a bid to entrench a one-party state.

Ibe revealed that a pending appeal and an active stay-of-action order already existed to counter the high court’s decision.

Atiku labelled the decision the height of judicial rascality and a desperate attempt by the ruling party to undermine the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said, “The so-called deregistration of the African Democratic Congress along with other parties by Justice Peter Lifu may yet be the biggest manifestation of Tinubu’s hell-bent bid to undermine the opposition and entrench a de facto one-party state. The judgment is the height of judicial rascality.

“The Court of Appeal presided over by Justices Mohammed A. Danjuma, Adebunkunola A. Banjoko, Oyejoju O. Oyewumi had in Appeal CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026 and suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025 ordered Justice Peter Lifu to stay further action on the matter until the hearing and determination of the Appeal before it. The hearing for the appeal was scheduled for the 27th of October 2026.

“That order was dated 22nd of May 2026. Nigerians and the international community can see the level of desperation of the ruling party to either have their way in the 2027 elections or destroy our democracy that was purchased at a huge cost.”

Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah, Sunday Aborisade and Yinka Kolawole