NDC derecognition: It’s not too late – Atiku’s aide to Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, others

Paul Ibe, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has urged opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, to unite ahead of the 2027 election following a Federal High Court ruling that set aside its earlier judgment directing the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

In a post on X on Friday, the aide described the Lokoja court’s decision as a “wake-up call” for the opposition, alleging that President Bola Tinubu was pursuing a de facto one-party state.

He claimed the ruling signalled that there was “no hiding place for the opposition” and accused the President of seeking to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election.

Ibe further alleged that Tinubu intended to “obliterate the opposition” if allowed to have his way politically, and warned that Nigeria’s democracy was under threat.

He, however, said it was not too late for opposition parties to harmonise their strengths ahead of the 2027 elections, urging leaders such as Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and others to work together if they hoped to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ibe wrote: “The decision of the Federal High Court Lokoja in settting aside its earlier judgement on the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) should be a wake-up call that there is no hiding place for the opposition as the incompetent and clueless Tinubu @officialABAT  sets his sights on enthroning a de facto one-party state.

“His message is loud and clear: that he will obliterate the opposition and destroy our hard-won democracy if he does not have his way in the 2027 election. It is not too late for the opposition to harmonize their strengths ahead of 2027 if the Yar’Adua 2.0 President Tinubu is to be retired to either Bourdillon or Iragbiji!”

DAILY POST reported Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, where Justice Isah Dashen set aside the court’s earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the NDC.

The judge held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the suit.

Counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, said the ruling restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive case is heard afresh.

He added that all actions taken by INEC pursuant to the earlier judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, have been reversed pending the final determination of the suit.