Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has raised concerns over what he described as attempts to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that any move to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Adeyanju expressed strong opposition to the alleged moves on Saturday, saying efforts aimed at sidelining major opposition parties would undermine political competition and weaken democratic values in the country.
According to him, any action targeted at removing credible opposition ahead of a major election raises serious concerns about fairness and democratic freedom.
“The ongoing and unrelenting efforts to deregister the two major opposition political parties expected to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election is condemnable and is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.
Adeyanju stressed that a healthy democracy depends on strong political competition and the presence of credible alternatives for voters. He noted that elections should be decided by the people through the ballot, not by limiting the options available to them.
He warned against any attempt to create an uneven political environment where opposition voices are weakened before the election cycle fully begins.
“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.
“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.”
The activist also said the implications of suppressing opposition parties could go beyond politics, affecting Nigeria’s global democratic image and investor confidence.
He warned that actions perceived as shrinking political space could damage the country’s reputation among international partners and economic stakeholders.
“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.”
Adeyanju further maintained that all legally registered political parties have constitutional rights to participate in elections and present candidates to Nigerians without interference.
He insisted that leadership choices must remain in the hands of citizens and not be influenced by political manipulation or institutional pressure.
“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.”
Lastly, He called on democratic institutions and political leaders to protect Nigeria’s democratic space and ensure all lawfully registered parties are allowed to operate freely ahead of the 2027 polls.
