2027: Deregistering ADC, Other Parties Could Trigger National Crisis, Timi Frank Warns

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has warned that any attempt to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties could trigger a national crisis and undermine Nigeria’s democracy.

The warning came in a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday and signed by Comrade Frank in his capacity as ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East and Senior Advisor, Global Friendship City Association, USA.

Frank described the deregistration move as a direct threat to multi-party democracy and alleged that the court ruling formed part of a wider effort to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general election.

He called on the US President Donald Trump and the international community to urgently intervene to preserve Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

He noted that the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Mohammed A. Danjuma, had earlier ordered Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court to stay further proceedings in the matter pending the hearing and determination of an appeal scheduled for October 27, 2026.

Frank, however, questioned the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the judgement, describing it as “sudden, suspicious and inconsistent with due judicial process.”

“The judgement came suddenly without prior notice to the parties involved. From the information available to us, it appeared that the judgment had been prepared elsewhere and simply delivered by the court,” he alleged.

“Nobody knew about it. There was no information and no briefing, even to the lawyers representing the parties. The judgment was given suddenly. It was something they plotted and cooked up to make it look legitimate without even notifying the parties involved,” Frank alleged.

Describing the ruling as a “mystery judgement,” Frank alleged that it was orchestrated to achieve a predetermined political outcome. “From the information we received, the judgement was written elsewhere and handed to the judge. The Office of the Attorney-General wrote the script and the judge merely played out that script,” he alleged.

“It must be noted that any attempt by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and those working with him to deregister political parties, particularly major opposition parties such as the ADC, will give rise to a crisis that may be difficult to contain.

“This issue goes beyond ADC or any individual politician. It concerns the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate, participate in politics and choose their leaders through competitive and credible elections,” he stated.

He alleged that the current administration has consistently sought to undermine opposition parties through actions aimed at creating divisions and weakening their structures.

“We have seen efforts to weaken opposition parties across the board—from ADC to PDP, Labour Party and others. These actions appear aimed at suppressing alternative voices and consolidating political control.

“There are increasing concerns among Nigerians about the role of some judges and whether they are acting independently or under the influence of government officials. These concerns cannot be ignored,” he said.

He further alleged that the relationship between some members of the executive and the judiciary had raised questions about institutional independence.

“A government where a serving minister builds houses for judges, provides vehicles, allocates land and extends other benefits to members of the judiciary raises legitimate concerns. There is a growing perception that the judiciary has been captured by forces within government.

“This particular judge is known for delivering controversial judgments. Most of the controversial judgments coming out of the Federal High Court are associated with this judge. Whenever there is an attempt to destabilise political parties or truncate democratic processes, this judge is usually assigned to handle the matter,” he alleged.

“The ADC and its presidential candidate represent, in the eyes of many Nigerians, a national movement that cuts across ethnic, regional and religious divides. Any attempt to cripple such a platform for political reasons will fail.

“There is a growing belief among many Nigerians that this government does not want a northern candidate on the ballot and that this explains some of the actions being witnessed today,” he alleged.

Warning of the potential consequences of shrinking the democratic space, Frank said any attempt to transform Nigeria into a one-party state could have far-reaching implications for national stability.

“Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people. Any desperate attempt to turn the country into a one-party state could trigger unrest and a crisis that nobody can control. The consequences for national unity and democratic governance would be severe,” he warned.

He called on the international community to closely monitor developments in Nigeria. He urged democratic institutions, civil society organisations, religious leaders, youth groups and professional bodies to defend the country’s democratic gains.

“The time has come for all lovers of democracy to rise in defence of the democratic gains Nigerians have fought hard to achieve. Silence in the face of these developments could have far-reaching consequences for the future of our country,” Frank stated.