‘Legitimate Victory Comes Through Competition, Not Weak Opposition’, Adeyanju Tells Tinubu

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned what he described as ongoing efforts to deregister major opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that such moves posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic system.

In a statement on Saturday, Adeyanju alleged that there were “ongoing and unrelenting efforts” to deregister the two major opposition parties expected to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next presidential election, describing the development as condemnable and dangerous for the country’s democratic future.

According to him, no democratically elected president should seek to govern in an environment where credible political opposition is weakened or eliminated.

“No President should seek to govern in an atmosphere where viable political opposition is weakened or eliminated. President Tinubu does not need to go into the next election without credible challengers to secure a legitimate victory,” Adeyanju said.

The activist argued that if the Tinubu administration had earned the confidence and support of Nigerians through its policies and performance, it should have no fear of facing all qualified political parties at the polls.

“If his administration has earned the confidence of Nigerians, it should be prepared to face every qualified political party at the ballot box. Legitimacy is strengthened by competition, not by the absence of it,” he stated.

Adeyanju further warned that any attempt to weaken opposition parties, whether directly or indirectly, could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democratic credentials and international image, adding that it could also discourage foreign investors and damage the country’s reputation within the global community.

“Those behind any actions designed to weaken or cripple the opposition, whether directly or indirectly, should remember that they do not merely damage political parties but risk damaging Nigeria’s international reputation. A nation that is perceived as shrinking its democratic space sends the wrong signal to investors and the global community,” he said.

The lawyer maintained that democracy thrives on political competition and citizens’ ability to freely choose among competing candidates and parties.

“Nigeria’s democracy must never be reduced to a system where the outcome of elections appears predetermined by the weakening of political alternatives. Every lawful political party has a right to exist, to campaign and to test its popularity before the Nigerian people. It is the electorate who should decide who governs our country and nobody else,” Adeyanju added.

His remarks come amid growing political debates over the future of opposition parties and preparations for the 2027 general election with concerns in some quarters about the need to preserve a level playing field for all political actors.