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Nigeria’s opposition parties have raised the alarm over what they describe as an escalating campaign to cripple political competition, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deploying judicial controversies, intimidation and alleged economic pressure to constrict the democratic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In separate but strikingly similar statements, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) accused the ruling party of attempting to frustrate opposition activities, silence dissenting voices and undermine Nigerians’ right to freely choose their next leaders.
While the ADC described Thursday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified the leadership of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee and affected the party’s political arrangements, as a desperate judicial manoeuvre to derail its growing electoral momentum, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar declared that “the panic is real”.
The ADC specifically linked the timing of the judgment to the massive turnout at its presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, alleging that the ruling party was rattled by the crowd and the growing appeal of its Affordable Life campaign.
The NDC, on its part, accused the APC of extending its alleged clampdown beyond the courts and political arena to the hospitality industry, claiming that hotels in Abuja were being pressured to deny opposition parties access to their facilities for meetings and political activities.
The developments have triggered fresh concerns within opposition circles over the state of political competition, with the ADC warning against what it called dangerous attempts to eliminate political rivalry through judicial controversies, while the NDC urged Nigerians and democracy advocates to resist any attempt to restrict opposition activities.
SOKOTO RALLY TRIGGERS APC PANIC, ADC DECLARES; ATIKU WARNS AGAINST PLAYING WITH FIRE
The ADC accused the APC of exploiting the judiciary to frustrate its political ambitions, insisting that the judgment delivered by Justice Lifu barely 24 hours after its massive Sokoto rally was not a coincidence.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the timing suggested that the ruling had been awaiting an opportunity for delivery, with the opposition’s successful rally allegedly providing the trigger.
The party recalled that thousands of Nigerians had turned out in Sokoto to demonstrate support for its presidential candidate and its promise to make life affordable, only for the court judgment to emerge the following day and throw the party’s leadership and candidacy arrangements into fresh uncertainty.
“We have reasons to believe that the judgment had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the ADC declared.
It questioned whether those behind the judgment had considered the far-reaching consequences of the decision, particularly its implications for thousands of candidates seeking elective offices under the party at local, state and federal levels.
“This is not about Atiku Abubakar or David Mark. It is about the democratic rights of Nigerians to freely choose their own leaders. It is about the rights of thousands of candidates to participate in a democratic process,” the party stated.
Atiku, in a separate statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, described the judgment as a calculated attempt to weaken the party and frustrate his presidential ambition.
He argued that the ruling party had miscalculated by assuming that his political support was restricted to Northern Nigeria, insisting that the massive reception in Sokoto reflected a national appetite for change.
“The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,” Atiku declared.
He stressed that although his roots were in Northern Nigeria, his presidential ambition was national, arguing that hunger, poverty and economic hardship had no regional boundaries.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North,” he said.
Atiku further alleged that the judgment was part of a strategy to weaken his support base in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message was gaining traction across the country.
“The ruling party’s greatest miscalculation is to assume that my support ends in the North. What we saw in Sokoto, what we will see in Kebbi and across the country, is the strength of a national movement,” he added.
In an unusually strong warning, the ADC cautioned the APC against pursuing what it described as a dangerous attempt to eliminate political competition, declaring that the consequences could extend beyond the fortunes of individual politicians.
“We warn the APC: do not play with fires you cannot control. The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party,” the party warned.
“Nobody should be so desperate to retain power that they are prepared to put the entire country at risk.”
The party challenged the APC to submit itself to a competitive electoral process rather than allow political disputes to degenerate into controversies capable of undermining confidence in democratic institutions.
“If the President thinks he has performed well in office, why is he afraid of competition? If the APC thinks that its policies and candidates are popular, why don’t they subject themselves to free and fair elections?” it asked.
ADC HEADS TO APPEAL COURT, CITES SUBSISTING JUDGMENT; ATIKU SAYS ‘THERE IS NO SHAKING’
Beyond its political objections, the ADC declared the judgment legally indefensible, insisting that it would challenge the decision through every available judicial process.
The party anchored its objection on an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which it said affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership.
According to the ADC, the earlier decision raised fundamental questions about the jurisdiction of another court of coordinate jurisdiction to revisit or overturn issues already determined by a court of equal standing.
It maintained that a court of coordinate jurisdiction could not sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction.
The party, however, said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of Justice Lifu’s judgment to establish its precise terms, scope and operative orders before determining the full extent of its legal implications.
Atiku also questioned why another suit was instituted to reopen the leadership dispute after Justice Liman had dismissed the challenge, citing issues of jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
He described the development as an attempt to circumvent an existing judicial decision and vowed to challenge what he called a judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, Atiku urged party supporters not to allow the judgment to derail the momentum generated by the Sokoto rally, insisting that the ADC campaign would continue across the country.
With the campaign train already in Kebbi, the former Vice President said the party remained committed to its Affordable Life agenda, which he described as a credible response to the crushing cost-of-living crisis confronting Nigerians.
“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis,” he said.
He urged supporters to remain peaceful, resolute and focused, taking the party’s message from house to house and door to door.
“There is no shaking,” Atiku declared.
NDC ALLEGES HOTEL BLACKLIST, NAMES ROCKVIEW, BON HOTEL; SAYS OPPOSITION UNDER ATTACK ON ALL FRONTS
Adding another dimension to the growing opposition complaints, the Nigeria Democratic Congress accused the APC of extending its alleged campaign against opposition parties to Abuja’s hospitality industry, claiming that hotels were being pressured to deny them access to meeting facilities.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC said it had become a victim of discrimination by hotels and hospitality operators despite meeting the conditions required to use their facilities.
The party specifically named Rockview Hotel and BON Hotel, Wuse, Abuja, alleging that both establishments had frustrated its efforts to organise political meetings.
According to the NDC, Rockview Hotel twice withdrew previously agreed arrangements for the use of its facilities, including an occasion in June 2026 when the party intended to hold its second National Executive Committee meeting.
It alleged that the hotel recently rejected another request to use its facilities, claiming that the decision was communicated as an “order from above”.
The NDC also accused BON Hotel, Wuse, of refusing to make its facilities available despite the party having fulfilled all the conditions stipulated by the management.
The party further claimed that its recent unveiling of the National Campaign Council was nearly disrupted after its proposed host suddenly demanded a refund of the payment already made, saying it was no longer interested in hosting the event.
The NDC alleged that the withdrawal might have followed threats or directives from powerful interests, although it did not provide evidence identifying those allegedly responsible.
It said its refusal to accept the last-minute cancellation eventually compelled the hotel to honour the agreement and allow the event to proceed.
The party described the alleged treatment as a dangerous extension of political discrimination, arguing that denying opposition parties access to meeting venues amounted to restricting their ability to organise, mobilise and participate freely in the democratic process.
“The NDC has not just been a target of violent attacks by agents of the ruling and ruinous APC, it has become a soft target of discrimination by hoteliers and the hospitality industry in Abuja,” the statement alleged.
The party called on Nigerians and lovers of democracy to condemn the alleged actions of Rockview and BON Hotel, insisting that private business establishments should not become instruments for restricting political participation.
It also challenged the APC to allow all political parties to campaign without hindrance and give Nigerians the freedom to decide who governs them.
The NDC’s allegations, coming amid the ADC’s legal battle over its leadership and Atiku’s determination to continue campaigning, have added to the mounting political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The common message from both opposition parties is that the electoral contest must be decided by Nigerians at the ballot box, rather than through judicial controversies, intimidation or restrictions on political organisation.
For the ADC, the battle is now headed for the Court of Appeal, even as its campaign moves into Kebbi and other states. For the NDC, the immediate demand is an end to what it describes as the shrinking of democratic space.
With opposition parties increasingly raising questions about their ability to operate freely, the unfolding controversies have placed the independence of democratic institutions, the conduct of political actors and the freedom of electoral competition firmly at the centre of the 2027 political debate.
