Tension gripped the premises of the Federal High Court on Monday as protesters stormed the area to oppose ongoing moves to deregister opposition political parties.
The demonstrators, operating under the banner of Concerned Northern Nigeria Stakeholders, marched to the court complex in Wuse, Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with inscriptions such as “No Opposition, No Election” and “Let Democracy Breathe.”
Security operatives, including personnel of the Department of State Services, barricaded the entrance to the court, preventing the group from gaining access.
Addressing journalists, the group’s leader, Banki Sharrif, accused the Federal Government of attempting to undermine democratic institutions and interfere in the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from any form of influence over judicial processes, warning that such actions could erode public confidence in the rule of law.
According to him, weakening opposition parties would amount to stifling democratic competition.
“A government that seeks to suppress opposition shows a lack of confidence in its legitimacy. Elections without credible opposition cannot be considered free or fair,” he said.
The protesters also stressed the need for neutrality from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, cautioning against the politicisation of the office.
They alleged that attempts were being made to use legal and administrative mechanisms to delist certain political parties, particularly those with strong followings in Northern Nigeria.
The protest follows a suit before the court, backed by the Attorney General, seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister some political parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements.
Parties listed in the case include the African Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
In court filings, the AGF argued that retaining parties that allegedly fail to meet legal benchmarks contravenes provisions of the 1999 Constitution and undermines electoral integrity.
However, the protesters warned that any perceived judicial endorsement of such actions could fuel political exclusion, deepen divisions, and trigger unrest.
They further cautioned that public trust in the judiciary could diminish if courts are seen as extensions of the executive arm of government.
Monday’s demonstration comes amid heightened political tension as stakeholders continue to monitor developments surrounding the case and its implications for Nigeria’s democratic process.