A large group of protesters on Monday gathered at the Federal High Court in Abuja to express anger over what they described as alleged plans to deregister some opposition political parties.
The demonstrators cautioned President Bola Tinubu against any interference in the independence of the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Operating under the banner of Concerned Northern Nigeria Stakeholders, the protesters marched to the court entrance in the Wuse area, singing solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No Opposition, No Election,” “Tinubu, Let Our Democracy Breathe,” and “AGF Must Be Neutral.”
Security was heavily deployed at the scene, with armed personnel, including operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), stationed at the entrance and preventing the protesters from accessing the court premises.
Speaking to journalists, the group’s leader, Banki Sharrif, expressed concern over what he called increasing threats to democratic institutions, alleging attempts by the federal government to bypass due process.
He urged the presidency to respect institutional independence, saying, “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.”
Sharrif also argued that any move to weaken opposition parties reflects insecurity within the ruling system, stating, “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.”
The group maintained that a healthy democracy requires a strong opposition, adding that “elections without credible opposition are nothing more than staged exercises. Democracy demands fairness, openness, and equal opportunity for all political actors.”
He further called out the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), insisting that the office must remain neutral and not be used for political ends.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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