Adeyanju: Moves to Deregister NDC Threaten Democracy
Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned what he described as persistent efforts to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and other opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement, Adeyanju said no president should seek to govern in an environment where credible political opposition is weakened or eliminated, stressing that democracy thrives on competition and the availability of political alternatives.
He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not need to face the next election without viable challengers to secure a legitimate mandate, adding that if the administration has truly earned the confidence of Nigerians, it should be prepared to compete fairly at the polls.
According to him, any attempt to weaken or cripple opposition parties, whether directly or indirectly, not only undermines democratic principles but also damages Nigeria’s international image and sends negative signals to investors and the global community.
Adeyanju warned against reducing Nigeria’s democracy to a system where election outcomes appear predetermined through the weakening of political alternatives, insisting that every lawful political party has the right to exist, campaign and seek the mandate of the Nigerian people.
He maintained that the decision on who governs the country should rest solely with the electorate and not be influenced by efforts to suppress political competition.
