Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to follow the example of past leaders by not seeking to deregister opposition parties.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, made the remarks in a statement issued on Saturday by his media office. He reacted to reports of a court move targeting the Nigeria Democratic Congress, describing it as an effort to weaken opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former vice president said former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan never deregistered any opposition parties despite political rivalry. He warned that such actions could lead to a one-party state and undermine public confidence in elections.
Atiku appealed to the judiciary to resist attempts to use the courts for partisan purposes. He stated that judges should uphold the rule of law to maintain the integrity of democratic institutions.
