Protest erupts in Abuja court over opposition parties’ deregistration

Tension rose on Monday at the Federal High Court as dozens of demonstrators gathered to protest what they described as interference in Nigeria’s judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The protesters, operating under the banner of Concerned Northern Nigeria Stakeholders, marched to the court entrance in Wuse, Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with messages such as “No Opposition, No Election,” “Tinubu, Let Our Democracy Breathe,” and “AGF Must Be Neutral.”

Security personnel, including officers of the Department of State Services, blocked access to the premises, preventing the group from entering the court complex.

Speaking to journalists, the group’s leader, Banki Sharrif, expressed concern over what he called increasing threats to judicial independence and democratic institutions. He accused the Federal Government of undermining due process.

The demonstrators also directed their warning at President Bola Tinubu, urging him to ensure the protection of democratic principles and the autonomy of key institutions.

He said, “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately cease all forms of interference, overt or covert, with the judiciary. Courts must never be reduced to instruments of political engineering. The moment justice is manipulated, the nation itself is placed on trial.

“A government that seeks to weaken opposition betrays a lack of confidence in its own legitimacy. Democracy thrives on competition. Suppressing it is not strength; it is fear.

“Elections without credible opposition are nothing more than staged exercises. Democracy demands fairness, openness, and equal opportunity for all political actors.”

The demonstrators warned that democracy cannot function under “intimidation, coercion, or calculated manipulation,” insisting that civic space and opposition remain central to a functioning republic.

They further argued that attempts to weaken opposition parties reflect “a lack of confidence” in governance, reiterating that “democracy thrives on competition.”

On the role of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, Sharrif stressed the need for neutrality, cautioning against the politicisation of the office.

“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation must remain firmly anchored in neutrality and the rule of law. It must not be weaponised for political ends.

“Again, we are alarmed by moves suggesting the use of technicalities and administrative manoeuvring to weaken or delist political parties, particularly those with strong roots in Northern Nigeria.

“If the courts lend legitimacy to such actions without strict adherence to due process and substantive justice, it will be seen as judicial endorsement of political exclusion. That path is dangerous, risks disenfranchisement, deepens division, and could trigger widespread unrest,” Sharrif warned.

The protesters also warned that public trust in the courts could erode if the judiciary is perceived as an extension of the executive.

“Where the judiciary is perceived as an extension of the Executive, citizens inevitably lose faith in lawful remedies. When courts fail, the streets become the courtroom. No nation survives such a breakdown without serious consequences.

“We are closely monitoring every action of this administration and every pronouncement of the courts.”

Monday’s protest comes amid heightened political tension over a suit backed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, seeking the deregistration of several political parties.

In court filings before the Federal High Court, the AGF supported a case instituted by some former lawmakers asking the court to compel INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress and four others.

He argued that the continued existence of the affected parties violates provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and undermines electoral integrity, adding that the electoral body would be acting in breach of its constitutional duties if it retains parties that allegedly fail to meet legal requirements.

Other parties listed in the suit include the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and the Zenith Labour Party.

The AGF, in an affidavit filed through a legal team led by Prof. Joshua Olatoke (SAN), maintained that as the chief law officer of the federation, he is duty-bound to uphold the Constitution and ensure compliance with the Electoral Act and other laws regulating political parties.

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