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ADC Warns Government Agents Seeking Party De-registration, Says “Justice Peter Lifu Is A Threat To Democracy”

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5 months ago

June 15, 2026

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ADC Warns Government Agents Seeking Party De-registration, Says “Justice Peter Lifu Is A Threat To Democracy”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected a Federal High Court judgment concerning its de-registration, describing the ruling as a threat to democracy and political stability, and warns of the dire consequences that may follow any effort to remove the party from the ballot.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that the curious judgment is yet the clearest evidence of the desperation of the ruling party and the government to ensure that President Tinubu holds on to power by any means necessary, even if it means subverting democracy and throwing the country into a crisis of immense proportions.
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The party emphasised that the Constitution grants only INEC the power to register or de-register a political party. However, this judgment has flagrantly contradicted INEC’s position on affidavit and ignored a subsisting order of stay of proceedings of the Court of Appeal. The ADC therefore vowed to challenge the ruling through all lawful means, while urging its members to remain calm and await further directives.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to warn, in the strongest possible terms, against any attempt to use the judiciary as an instrument to undermine democracy and plunge Nigeria into a major political crisis.

We are deeply alarmed by the judgment reportedly delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a case filed by the so-called National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the de-registration of the ADC and four other political parties. This judgment stands in direct conflict with constitutional principles and all known judicial processes and procedures.

The facts are straightforward. The plaintiffs had argued that the ADC and four other political parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to continued registration. However, in its counter-affidavit filed before the court in May, INEC, the constitutional body empowered with the registration, regulation, and supervision of political parties in Nigeria, categorically maintained that the ADC had not violated any registration requirements, had not failed any constitutional electoral-performance threshold, and that no legally recognised basis existed for its de-registration.

INEC further made it clear that the de-registration of a political party cannot be driven by political pressure, sentiment, or the wishes of interested parties. It must be based strictly on constitutionally established grounds, none of which had been proven against the ADC.

Apart from INEC’s firm position in support of the party, the ADC finds it troubling that the trial judge was aware of a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal issued on May 22, 2026, directing a stay of proceedings on the matter. The judge, however, chose to flagrantly and contemptuously disregard a clear order of a superior court in a manner that brings into question all known judicial traditions.

The ADC considers this development not merely a legal dispute, but a dangerous escalation capable of destabilising the nation’s democratic process. Our position is anchored on the role that agents of the ruling party have played in this matter. It would be recalled that the case has been championed directly by individuals working with the President’s Chief of Staff. The decision of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who is a second defendant in the matter, to join the matter as a plaintiff in April, is an absurdity, which sends a signal that is impossible to ignore.

We are therefore left in no doubt that this latest development is a continuation of the ruling party’s persistent efforts to undermine the opposition, especially the ADC. We also find the timing of this ruling quite curious. Despite all the obstacles placed in its way, the ADC has risen to the task and met all benchmarks and deadlines. Therefore, coming at a time when the party has concluded its primaries and is fielding candidates for all positions in the next election, especially the presidential election, it is clear what this is all about.

However, the ADC would like to warn that any attempt to eliminate the country’s major opposition party through judicial manoeuvring, thereby sabotaging the political aspirations of hundreds of its candidates, is a direct invitation to anarchy.

This is why we consider this ruling reckless, provocative, and even incendiary. Those who believe they can manipulate institutions of state to narrow the democratic space must understand that they are playing with forces far greater than partisan interests.

At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling under crushing economic hardship, escalating insecurity, widespread unemployment, and growing national anxiety inflicted by the APC, it is deeply disturbing that powerful forces appear more interested in eliminating political opposition than confronting the real crises facing the country.

From our standpoint, the issue before the country is no longer simply about party registration. It is about whether the Nigerian people will be allowed genuine political choices in 2027. It is about whether democracy will remain a contest decided by voters at the ballot box or by powerful interests operating through institutions that ought to remain impartial.

Let it be clearly stated: the ADC will not stand by while the democratic rights of millions of Nigerians are threatened. We reject any and all attempts to intimidate, suppress, deregister, or politically extinguish our party and other opposition parties through means that offend both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution.

Nigeria is a nation of law, not a nation governed by the whims and caprices of agents of the ruling party. Therefore, as a law-abiding political party, the ADC will vigorously challenge this judgment through every lawful and constitutional avenue available to us. We shall mobilise all democratic stakeholders. We shall defend the rights of all our candidates, members, supporters, and the millions of Nigerians who are looking to the ADC as a credible alternative for national renewal.

Make no mistake, this is another act of desperation by the ruling party and the government to hand President Tinubu a second term without contest. This will not work. We therefore warn those who are seeking to manufacture a civilian dictatorship to understand that democracy cannot be strangled without consequences for national stability.

The responsibility for any tension or crisis arising from efforts to weaponise the judiciary against legitimate political opposition will rest squarely with those who are pursuing this dangerous and illegitimate path.

ADC

Meanwhile, the ADC will petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the judicial rascality demonstrated by the presiding judge of the Federal High Court, whose conduct has continued to bring the institution of the judiciary into disrepute.

We call on all our members, candidates, supporters, and coalition partners across the country to remain calm, vigilant, and steadfast. Whatever it takes, the ADC will be on the ballot so long as the 2027 election is to hold.

Further directives will be communicated through the appropriate channels.

Signed:

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC)
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Wike Promises N10m to Councillors who Deliver Wards; 2027

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6 hours ago

November 9, 2026

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Wike Promises N10m to Councillors who Deliver Wards; 2027

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has promised N10m to every councillor who successfully delivers their political ward to President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress candidates in the 2027 general elections.
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Wike made the promise during a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting attended by traditional rulers, political stakeholders and residents in Kwali Area Council on Monday.

He urged councillors to mobilise residents and community groups to secure victory for the APC in their respective wards, Channels TV reported.

“Any councillor that delivers his ward will get N10 million reward. Therefore, go and meet your leaders, go and meet your youth groups, go and consult with associations. Let’s deliver our ward to Mr President,” he said.

The minister also declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid and endorsed Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT Senate seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency.

“I don’t need to preach to you any longer. The one you are seeing is what you follow, not the one that will give you unfulfilled promises. I will go to sleep tonight because I know Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Abaji are 100 per cent for APC,” Wike declared.

Wike criticises opposition
He also accused opposition parties and political figures of double standards and hypocrisy over their reactions to judicial rulings.

Wike criticised opposition figures who condemned court decisions, citing the judicial verdict that voided the ticket of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Contrasting the opposition’s reactions to different legal outcomes, Wike said their assessment of the judiciary depended on whether court decisions favoured them.

“When ADC had a matter in court and won at the Supreme Court, they said, ‘The court is the last hope,’ ‘The court has saved democracy,’ and ‘We know our judiciary will not fail us.’

“But when they lost a court case, it became: ‘The President is using the court to fight the opposition.’ When it is good for you, the judiciary is clear. When it is bad, you claim they are using it to destroy democracy. What kind of system are we operating?” Wike questioned.

The minister also defended his administration’s policy of providing brand-new Sport Utility Vehicles to first-class traditional rulers in the FCT, which has attracted criticism from some political commentators.

Vehicles: political inducement or bribe?
Dismissing allegations that the vehicles amounted to political inducements or bribes, Wike said traditional rulers deserved dignity and respect.

“You want a first-class traditional ruler to be walking on the road with a stick in hand, taking public buses so they can get hit by a car one day? But you expect Chief Press Secretaries to Governors, Chairmen, and Presidents to ride SUVs?

“Instead of using their platforms to support good things, critics turn it upside down. We will provide for our traditional rulers, and nothing will come out of their complaints,” he said.

He said the ongoing road projects across the satellite towns were nearing completion and would be inaugurated in December.

Wike said the Rainbow Coalition was working in the collective interest of FCT residents, adding that its grassroots structure was bridging political divides to promote effective representation and development.

“The kind of decision the President is taking is not one that other politicians will take, bringing us out from the shadow into reality, and that is what a good leader should be able to do for his people,” he said.

Comparing Tinubu’s administration with previous governments, Wike listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and infrastructure upgrades across satellite towns as some of the current administration’s achievements.

He lamented what he described as the historical marginalisation of the FCT, saying that despite having a population of six to seven million, the territory had only one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats.

“For 50 years, nobody could remember you. The President has changed the narrative, given you your own civil service, allowed you to employ your people, and elevated your traditional stools. You cannot afford to make a mistake in 2027,” Wike warned.

Wike also promised to look into the salaries of FCT councillors following a complaint by the Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Gambo Hamza.

Wike

Hamza had said councillors in the territory received N260,000 as monthly salaries and appealed to the minister to intervene.

In his remarks, the APC Chairman in the FCT, Ishaku Yamawo, commended Wike for uniting political stakeholders across party lines and promoting development in the territory.

His Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Mohammed Dogara, also thanked Wike for his work in the FCT and assured him of massive support for Tinubu’s re-election.

Similarly, Aliyu Baka, who spoke on behalf of Rainbow Coalition stakeholders in the FCT, expressed regret over what he described as the coalition’s electoral missteps in 2023, saying it was prepared to ensure victory for its candidates and Tinubu in 2027.
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Police Rescue Abducted APC Chairman Abdullahi Beli in Kano

Published

6 hours ago

November 9, 2026

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Police Rescue Abducted APC Chairman Abdullahi Beli in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has rescued the All Progressives Congress Chairman in Rogo Local Government Area, Abdullahi Beli, popularly known as Abdullahi Fanka, after 68 days in captivity.
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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the police command, led by Commissioner of Police Adamu Bakori, for securing the release of the party chairman.

The governor’s commendation was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Sunusi Tofa.

Online media reports that Beli was abducted by armed men from his residence in Beli community, Rogo Local Government Area.

The rescued chairman, while recounting his ordeal, said his abductors moved him through several locations, including Danja, Ikara and Giwa in Kaduna State, as well as parts of Zamfara State.

The Commissioner of Police disclosed the rescue during a briefing with the governor at the Government House, Kano.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intensifying efforts to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

In his response, Yusuf praised the police commissioner and other personnel involved in the operation.

“I specifically acknowledged the contributions of the Officer-in-Charge of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad, CSP Aliyu Muhammad Auwal; CSP Ado Muhammad Audi; and the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.

Police

“I’m also directing the state Commissioner for Health to ensure that the rescued chairman received comprehensive medical attention and psychosocial rehabilitation at the expense of the state government,” Yusuf said.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies in protecting lives and property and ensuring the safety of residents across the state.
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Obi Accuses NFF Officials Of Blocking Him From Greeting Nigeria’s Flamingos, Says They Feared Losing Jobs

Published

6 hours ago

November 9, 2026

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Obi Accuses NFF Officials Of Blocking Him From Greeting Nigeria’s Flamingos, Says They Feared Losing Jobs

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting members of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at an airport on Monday, allegedly because they feared losing their jobs.
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Obi described the incident as another example of what he called the growing culture of “toxic politics” in Nigeria, claiming that political differences were increasingly being allowed to undermine national unity and ordinary human interactions.

In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, the former Anambra State governor said he arrived at the airport at about 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he saw the young footballers, who had just arrived and were preparing to leave the airport.

He said he asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome the players but was informed that NFF officials had objected to the idea.

“I arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. this morning to board my flight to Enugu. There, I saw the Nigeria Under-17 girls’ team, which had just arrived and was preparing to board its vehicle into town,” Obi wrote.

“With genuine joy and enthusiasm, I asked my Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether I could greet and welcome the team. I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs.”

Obi said the incident was not the first time he had allegedly been prevented from interacting with Nigerian footballers because of concerns that officials could face consequences.

He recalled that on March 25, 2025, when he travelled to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for a World Cup qualifying match, he was similarly prevented from greeting players after the game.

According to him, the governor had welcomed him at the VIP stand, but other government officials who went to greet the players were allegedly stopped from allowing him to do the same.

“Regrettably, this is not the first time I have been subjected to such treatment. On March 25, 2025, I was in Uyo for the World Cup qualifier. The governor warmly received me and welcomed me at the VIP stand. Following the match, other government officials went to greet the players, but I was again prevented from doing so. I was told by the officials that they would lose their jobs if I proceeded,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate said the incidents reflected what he described as a deterioration in Nigeria’s political environment since 2025.

“It is deeply troubling to witness the extent of toxic politics into which our nation has descended since 2025. Each year appears to bring further deterioration. This reflects how deeply Nigeria has been affected,” he stated.

Obi called for a political environment in which citizens could interact freely regardless of their political affiliations, insisting that hostility and intimidation should have no place in the country.

“The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation. It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences,” he added.

Obi Had Congratulated Flamingos After World Cup Triumph

Obi’s complaint came a day after he congratulated the Flamingos following their triumph at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

In a separate post on Sunday, he praised the players for their performance and described their achievement as a source of national pride.

“FLAMINGOS: YOU HAVE MADE NIGERIA PROUD,” he wrote.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to our exceptional Flamingos on their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

World Cup

“To our talented young stars, thank you for raising our flag high and bringing immense joy to our nation. Your remarkable talent, resilience, hard work and dedication have earned you a special place in the hearts of Nigerians.

“You have made our nation proud, and we truly appreciate your outstanding efforts.

“Congratulations, champions!”
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