Hundreds of supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by the party’s National Youth Leader, Hon. Balarabe Rufai, on Tuesday staged a protest at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, demanding the removal of Justice Peter Odo Lifu over a ruling the party alleges ordered the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties.
The protesters marched from the party’s national secretariat in Wuse II to the court premises, chanting “Justice Lifu must go” and displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Judiciary is not for sale,” “Judiciary is our last hope,” “Don’t force Nigerians into chaos,” “Save our democracy now,” and “No to one-party state.”
Addressing journalists, Rufai accused the judiciary of being used to undermine Nigeria’s democracy and warned that declining public confidence in the courts could have grave political consequences. He insisted that the ADC must be allowed to participate in the 2027 general elections, with protesters chanting, “No ADC, no election.”
Rufai also called on former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as former Heads of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), to intervene, alleging that the country was being pushed toward a one-party state.
He further appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene, saying the party had already petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), accusing Justice Lifu of proceeding with the case despite what the ADC described as a subsisting Court of Appeal order staying further proceedings.
According to Rufai, the judge’s actions amounted to judicial misconduct, adding that the party had yet to receive any response from the NJC regarding its petition.
The protesters dispersed peacefully after submitting their demands. As of the time of filing this report, neither the National Judicial Council nor Justice Peter Odo Lifu had issued an official response to the allegations.
