ADC Warns Judiciary Against Undermining Democracy After Appeal Court Ruling
The Deputy National Financial Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Oladimeji Fabiyi, has called on Nigeria’s judiciary to resist being used as a tool to weaken the country’s democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Fabiyi alleged that recent developments involving opposition parties indicate an effort to weaken political competition and gradually transform Nigeria into a one‑party state.
He stressed that the opposition would resist any action capable of undermining the nation’s democratic system.
The ADC chieftain urged the judiciary to stay independent and avoid decisions that could erode public confidence in the courts.
“The judiciary should not help Tinubu to destroy our democracy. We will not allow it,” he said.
He added, “As tough and serious as the military was, it never subjected our judiciary to this ridicule, to the point that our judiciary has gone to the abyss.”
Fabiyi accused the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to use state institutions to frustrate opposition parties ahead of future elections.
He claimed the alleged plan would fail because opposition parties and Nigerians would resist any move to eliminate political pluralism.
“They want to turn the country into a one‑party state. It’s not going to work. We are not going to allow it,” Fabiyi added.
Despite the court ruling, Fabiyi said the ADC would continue its political and organisational activities across the country.
The party’s legal team is already handling cases arising from internal disputes and the legal challenge to its state congresses.
“Our legal team are handling whatever is in the court. It does not stop us. We are still going on with activities everywhere,” he said.
Fabiyi urged party members and supporters not to be discouraged by the legal developments, emphasizing that the ADC remains focused on strengthening its structures and expanding its membership nationwide.
He noted that the legal and leadership disputes affecting the ADC are part of a broader challenge confronting opposition parties in Nigeria.
Fabiyi urged Nigerians to pay attention to developments within the political space, saying the alleged pressure is not limited to the ADC.
“Now, what we need is to ask Nigerians to really understand our situation. It’s not only ADC,” he said.
“We see what they are doing to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It’s not limited to ADC alone. So we are not bothered.”
He expressed confidence that the ADC would overcome its internal and legal challenges and would continue to pursue its political objectives through lawful and democratic means.
The Court of Appeal had recently upheld an order preventing INEC from recognising the affected ADC state congresses, a development that has further intensified the leadership and organisational disputes within the opposition party.
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