Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential flagbearer for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has strongly criticized a recent court decision that mandates the deregistration of several political parties. He described the ruling as unconstitutional and a direct threat to Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
In a statement shared on his X handle, Adebayo argued that there exists no legal, constitutional, or ethical justification for suppressing alternative political platforms through government-backed judicial actions. He expressed deep concern that this order comes just days after the nation celebrated Democracy Day, a time when democratic values were reaffirmed.
Although his own party is not among those affected, Adebayo emphasized that staying silent on such injustice would amount to abandoning democratic principles. He called on all Nigerians and democracy advocates to stand in solidarity with the impacted parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Adebayo highlighted that Nigeria’s rich social, cultural, religious, economic, and ideological diversity necessitates a wide array of political platforms for citizens to pursue their aspirations freely. He pledged support for the affected parties in their lawful pursuit of justice and reinstatement, asserting that democratic participation must never be restricted.
He further advocated for constitutional reforms to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its power to register or deregister political parties, limiting its role solely to conducting free, fair, and credible elections. Instead, he proposed a system where political associations can field candidates freely, subject to statutory deposits that would be forfeited if they fail to secure a minimum vote percentage.
Adebayo warned against policies that could escalate political tension, urging leaders to focus on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting national development. The court ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court on Monday, orders INEC to deregister the ADC, Accord Party, and others, barring them from participating in the 2027 general elections.