ADC Judgement: Nigeria’s Democracy Under Threat, Coalition Of Opposition Parties Allege

A group of opposition parties, on the auspices of Coalition for Democracy has raised concerns over Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment concerning the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the development as a dangerous escalation in what it alleges is a systematic attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Friday, November 6, 2026, and signed by Salihu Moh. Lukman on behalf of the coalition parties, the group warned that the judgment, which it said purportedly dissolved the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and invalidated its presidential candidacy, could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democratic system.

The coalition cautioned that the development affecting the ADC today could become the fate of other opposition parties tomorrow, amid what it described as a rapidly shrinking democratic space in the country.

According to the group, it had previously raised concerns over alleged attacks on opposition supporters, obstruction of political activities and the increasing use of state institutions against political competitors.

It maintained that Thursday’s court decision had given its earlier concerns renewed urgency, questioning whether opposition parties would be allowed to participate meaningfully in the political process ahead of the 2027 elections.

While reaffirming its respect for the independence of the judiciary and the constitutional right of aggrieved parties to seek legal redress, the coalition stressed that judicial institutions must not become instruments for extinguishing political competition.

“Those who seek to destroy the opposition in order to guarantee their own victory must understand that they are not merely threatening political parties; they are threatening the very foundations of the Republic,” the statement said.

The coalition further argued that no democracy could thrive where opposition parties were denied the opportunity to compete freely and offer Nigerians alternative political choices.

It warned that the continued restriction of democratic space could have serious implications for national stability, insisting that peaceful political competition remained essential to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.

“The ballot must remain the battlefield of democracy. No political party should be allowed to achieve through institutional manipulation what it fears it cannot achieve through the votes of Nigerians,” the group declared.

The coalition also expressed solidarity with the ADC over its decision to challenge the judgment through the appropriate judicial processes.

It called on opposition political parties, civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, organised labour, the media and Nigerians to unite in what it described as peaceful and lawful resistance against actions capable of undermining political pluralism.

The group maintained that the future of Nigeria’s democracy depended on protecting the right of political parties to organise, campaign and participate in credible elections without undue interference.

“Let it be known: the Coalition for Democracy will not stand by while Nigeria is reduced to a democracy without opposition, elections without alternatives, and ballots without genuine choices,” the statement added.

“An attack on one is an attack on all. We will resist it together.”

The Coalition for Democracy emerged from the G100 Opposition Summit held in Abuja on August 31, 2026. It comprises nine political parties: the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Youth Progressives Party (YPP).

The platform was established to coordinate opposition parties around the defence of constitutional democracy, political pluralism, the rule of law and the conduct of free, fair, credible and competitive elections in Nigeria.