The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has warned that the deregistration of political parties through court pronouncements poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and constitutional order.
IPAC National Publicity Secretary, Martins Egbeola, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while reacting to recent judicial decisions affecting some political parties, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to him, the trend raises concerns about the future of democratic pluralism and citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of association and political participation.
Egbeola noted that previous judgments ordering the deregistration of five political parties, alongside the recent ruling involving the NDC, could significantly narrow the nation’s democratic space if allowed to continue.
He stressed that regardless of the legal merits of individual cases, the cumulative effect of such decisions could undermine the spirit of constitutional democracy and weaken the multi-party system that Nigeria has embraced since the return to civilian rule.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the possibility that anti-democratic forces are working behind the scenes to manipulate state institutions for selfish political interests,” he said.
The IPAC spokesman urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to ensure that judges remain independent, impartial and faithful to the provisions of the Constitution in order to sustain public confidence in the judiciary.
“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and must never be perceived as a tool in the hands of politicians,” he added.
Egbeola further maintained that Nigeria’s strength lies in accommodating diverse political ideologies and interests through a robust multi-party system.
He warned against any attempt to impose a one-party state through judicial or institutional means, insisting that such efforts would ultimately fail.
“Multi-party democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. No amount of political manoeuvring can extinguish the democratic aspirations of Nigerians,” he stated.
He also reminded political actors that power is temporary and that history would judge actions capable of undermining democratic institutions and constitutional freedoms.
The NDC has since challenged the court ruling affecting its status and maintains that it remains a duly registered political party committed to participating in activities leading to the 2027 general elections.
