Former APC spokesman Timi Frank has warned that any move to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties could trigger a national crisis and weaken Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.
Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), issued the warning in a statement on Tuesday.
He described the reported deregistration move as a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
According to him, reports showed that the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Mohammed A. Danjuma, had earlier directed Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court to halt further proceedings pending the hearing of an appeal fixed for October 27, 2026.
Frank questioned how the judgment emerged. He described its delivery as sudden, suspicious and inconsistent with due judicial process.
“The judgment came suddenly without prior notice to the parties involved. From the information available to us, it appeared that the judgment had been prepared elsewhere and simply delivered by the court,” he alleged.
Frank claimed that neither the parties nor their lawyers received prior notice before the judgment was delivered.
“Nobody knew about it. There was no information and no briefing, even to the lawyers representing the parties. The judgment was given suddenly,” he alleged.
Frank, however, described the ruling as a “mystery judgment.” He alleged that certain interests influenced both its preparation and delivery.
“From the information we received, the judgment was written elsewhere and handed to the judge. The Office of the Attorney-General wrote the script and the judge merely played out that script,” he alleged.
Frank claimed that the reported attempt to deregister opposition parties forms part of a broader effort to weaken political rivals before the 2027 elections.
“It must be noted that any attempt by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and those working with him to deregister political parties, particularly major opposition parties such as the ADC, will give rise to a crisis that may be difficult to contain,” he said.
According to Frank, the issue extends beyond party politics.
He noted that it affects the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate and participate in elections.
“This issue goes beyond ADC or any individual politician. It concerns the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate, participate in politics and choose their leaders through competitive and credible elections,” he stated.
He alleged that the current administration has consistently worked to weaken opposition parties, including the ADC, PDP and Labour Party.
“We have seen efforts to weaken opposition parties across the board—from ADC to PDP, Labour Party and others. These actions appear aimed at suppressing alternative voices and consolidating political control,” he alleged.
Frank expressed concern about public perceptions regarding the independence of the judiciary.
“There are increasing concerns among Nigerians about the role of some judges and whether they are acting independently or under the influence of government officials. These concerns cannot be ignored,” he said.
Frank alleged that benefits provided to members of the judiciary by government officials have raised questions about institutional independence.
“A government where a serving minister builds houses for judges, provides vehicles, allocates land and extends other benefits to members of the judiciary raises legitimate concerns,” he alleged.
Frank also questioned the repeated involvement of a particular judge in politically sensitive cases.
“This particular judge is known for delivering controversial judgments. Most of the controversial judgments coming out of the Federal High Court are associated with this judge,” he alleged.
Frank said many Nigerians view the ADC as a platform that cuts across ethnic, religious and regional lines.
“The ADC and its presidential candidate represent, in the eyes of many Nigerians, a national movement that cuts across ethnic, regional and religious divides,” he said.
He alleged that some political interests seek to prevent certain contenders from participating fully in the next presidential election.
“There is a growing belief among many Nigerians that this government does not want a northern candidate on the ballot,” he alleged.
Frank warned that any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state could threaten national stability.
“Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people. Any desperate attempt to turn the country into a one-party state could trigger unrest and a crisis that nobody can control,” he warned.
Frank urged the international community to closely monitor political developments in Nigeria.
He specifically called on United States President Donald Trump, democratic governments, civil society groups, religious leaders, youth organisations and professional bodies to defend democratic institutions and the rule of law.
“The time has come for all lovers of democracy to rise in defence of the democratic gains Nigerians have fought hard to achieve,” he said.
Related Sources
U.S. Department of State – Democracy and Governance: https://www.state.gov
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): https://www.inecnigeria.org
National Judicial Council (NJC): https://njc.gov.ng
