It’s Serious Setback For Nigeria’s Democracy— Peter Obi Reacts To Court Ruling On NDC Registration
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has described the recent court ruling on the registration of the party as a major setback for Nigeria's democracy, warning that the country's democratic institutions are increasingly coming under threat.
Obi made the remarks on Friday after receiving news of the Lokoja court judgment which mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the NDC as a political party.
According to him, the ruling should worry every Nigerian committed to the nation's progress and democratic development.
“This judgment represents another setback for our democracy and the institutions upon which our future depends,” Obi said.
Obi accused some political actors of undermining the very institutions they claim to defend.
"It is regrettable that some who claim to champion democracy now appear determined to weaken the very institutions that sustain it. In doing so, they are undermining public confidence and endangering the future of millions of Nigerians," he stated.
The NDC presidential candidate further expressed concern over what he described as the growing decline in the independence and credibility of the legislature and the judiciary.
"The legislature and the judiciary are increasingly being drawn into this pattern of institutional decline. Democracy cannot thrive where institutions lose their independence and credibility," he said.
The former Anambra state governor maintained that those seeking to weaken Nigeria's democratic foundations would ultimately fail, insisting that his position on the matter was based on principle rather than partisan considerations.
He recalled that he had similarly condemned actions taken against the ADC in the past, stressing that his concern transcends political affiliations.
"My concern is not about who becomes President. My concern is that Nigeria works," he said.
Calling for a shift in Nigeria's political culture, Obi urged leaders to prioritise nation-building, justice, the rule of law and strong institutions over the pursuit of power.
"Our politics must move beyond the quest for power and focus instead on building a united nation founded on justice, strong institutions, the rule of law and equal opportunity. That is the Nigeria we owe ourselves and the one we must leave for future generations," he added.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate also called on Nigerians to rise above partisan interests and defend democratic institutions, warning that the survival of the nation's democracy is tied to the strength and independence of its institutions.
"I therefore urge all well-meaning Nigerians to rise above partisan interests and defend our democracy. The survival of our institutions is inseparable from the survival of our nation. It's when we work together that a new Nigeria of our dream is made possible," Obi said.