Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to uphold democratic principles by allowing opposition parties to operate freely, citing the records of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president alleged that moves to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) through the courts were part of an attempt to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku described the reported development as a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, warning that efforts to limit political competition could pave the way for a one-party state and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He urged the President to emulate Buhari, whom he said did not seek the deregistration of opposition parties despite fierce political rivalry during his administration. He also referenced Jonathan’s oft-repeated position that political ambition should never come at the expense of human lives.
“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.”
The former vice president maintained that Nigerians should be allowed to participate in credible elections and choose their leaders without interference, arguing that genuine democracy thrives on open political contest.
Atiku also appealed to the judiciary to preserve its independence and resist any attempt to use the courts for partisan political purposes.
He urged judicial officers to remain guided by the rule of law, stressing that the integrity of the courts is essential to the country’s democratic stability.
The statement warned that the actions of a few judicial officers could erode public trust in the judiciary and called on the institution to continue serving as an impartial guardian of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
