By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Former National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has accused the ruling government of using the Judiciary to destroy democracy.
Prince Secondus warned that such judicial rascality may lead to a one-party system and undermine democracy in Nigeria if unchecked.
Prince Secondus, who was reacting to the recent Federal High Court ruling by Justice Peter Lifu ordering the deregistration of some political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), expressed profound disappointment and deep concern over the development midway through the political cycle after the parties had completed their primary processes/elections 2026 with INEC & candidates ready for the campaign
The former PDP boss said in a statement he released in Abuja on Wednesday that the decision is not just a setback for the affected parties but a dangerous assault on the foundational principles of multi-party democracy, citizen participation, and the rule of law.
Prince Secondus accused the government of deliberately destroying opposition parties to achieve one-party rule, saying, “They are afraid of the election; they want a coronation”
According to Prince Secondus, the drafters of the Nigerian Constitution envisaged that INEC will act soon after the general election, not in the middle of the next election.
To deregister the parties midway, Secondus maintained, effectively disenfranchises voters, creates political instability, and narrows the democratic space, especially when a crisis has been deliberately injected into other parties.
His words, “It’s judicial rascality to endorse political exclusion by dissolving parties midway through a cycle. This obvious disruption creates unnecessary vacuums and chills the competitive spirit necessary for a healthy democracy.
“A robust democracy requires a low barrier to entry for alternative ideas. By dismantling smaller or emerging parties mid-cycle, the system heavily favours the entrenched political establishment and locks out grassroots movements needed for a robust democracy”, he declared.
END
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
