2027: CSO alleges plot by presidency to discredit ADC, opposition leaders

A Civil Society Organization known as Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy (NDRA) has alleged of a plot by the presidency aimed at dislodging the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The allegation by the group against the presidency is contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary-General of the (NDRA), Hon. Julius Aondowase on Tuesday.

According to the group, the rising profile of the ADC, especially in the Northern part of the country has caused the presidency to be unsettled and upset with a particular prominent appointee of APC administration from the North.

Aondowase said his group got a credible intelligence that the said top Northern politician, in a spirited effort to stem the tide of the ADC convened a meeting on Monday involving several Senior Advocates of Nigeria and members of the Bench with discussions centered on strategies that could be deployed to hinder the ADC from participating in the upcoming general elections next year.

“We have it from a reliable source that a meeting was convened on Monday with senior legal minds in Abuja.

“The purpose of the meeting is to explore all possible options that would compromise the judicial system to stop the ADC from participating in the election next year.

“We are also aware that the decision to get the ADC off the ballot in the upcoming election was handed down to the Northern top politician in the presidency.

“It is the last joker by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress to ensure a system of control over all viable opposition parties ahead of the election next year.

“After failing in the attempt to compromise the leadership structure of the ADC, the ruling party has now resorted to the last option of using the judicial process to stop the ADC,” the statement claimed.

The NDRA specifically claimed that the ongoing litigation challenging the authenticity of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC is being orchestrated by the ruling party.

“It is clear to us that the APC is the brain behind the sinister conspiracy to disqualify the David Mark leadership of the ADC, with the sole purpose of submitting the ADC to the whims of the ruling party.

“We make particular reference to a letter threatening the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, dated 28 March, 2026 asking that INEC should desist from recognizing the current leadership of the ADC,” the statement added.

Aondowase, however noted that the Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy is actively working with other civil rights organizations and professional bodies across the country, and is putting the relevant countries in notice through their embassies in Nigeria, that any attempt to cancel active opposition in Nigeria would be rejected and resisted.

He said further that the plan by the government was to effect the delegitimization of the ADC through what he called the obnoxious revised Electoral Act, which would technically disenfranchise opposition leaders in the ADC, locking them out of contesting in the 2027 general elections.

“The script that is being played by the government is clear: lock out all potential opponents against the ruling party and only the pliable opposition will be allowed to contest in the elections.

“Their agenda is to use the judiciary to eliminate the ADC, which is the most credible opposition party and by extension, through the instrumentality of the jaundiced Electoral Act amendment, disenfranchise all potential opponents of President Bola Tinubu.

“All civil society groups in Nigeria and concerned stakeholders in the democracy of this country are on red alert.

“The action to compromise our democracy and make the APC the only option on the ballot without a choice of a credible opponent will not be tolerated or accepted.

“We are by this press statement, therefore, calling the attention of all stakeholders, foreign governments and the generality of the masses of Nigeria to the machinations of the APC to cancel credible opposition, specifically the ADC from participating in the elections next year.

“We also send a note of warning those involved in this plot to put their focus squarely on the job of providing adequate security and welfare for the people of Nigeria who are daily being attacked, maimed and unalived by ravenous bandits and criminals,” the group said.