Obi questions timing of court ruling that voided ADC chairman's emergence
- Peter Obi said he was shocked by a Federal High Court ruling that cancelled the ADC chairman's emergence and his actions.
- He said he does not dispute the court's power but questioned the timing so close to the general election.
- Obi alleged the ruling party is behind instability in opposition parties, including in the Labour Party.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has raised concerns about when a Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a ruling that cancelled the emergence of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national chairman and everything he did in that role.
In a statement on his X account on Thursday, Obi said the news came as a shock and left the political scene unsettled with a general election approaching. He did not dispute the court's authority to settle disputes, but argued that voters need clarity about parties and candidates well before they go to the polls.
He said his worry was that with three months to a general election, certainty serves the public interest.
What Obi is asking for
The former Anambra State governor said a mark of democracy is that leaders are chosen by voters at all times rather than by courts, and that he has always respected the judiciary. He called on the courts and other stakeholders to protect democratic institutions so that candidates can take part in elections freely.
Obi alleged that the ruling party is deliberately stirring instability inside opposition parties, saying he had faced the same thing in the Labour Party. He also alleged that opposition campaigns have been hit by violence, and described these as moves to narrow the space for civic activity and weaken opposition politics.
He warned that Nigeria should guard its democracy closely, pointing to the spread of military rule in parts of West Africa as a reason not to allow opposition parties to be pushed aside.
He said the time had come to strengthen democracy by letting the opposition thrive.
Obi added that if elected president, he would make the stability of opposition parties a priority and ensure their candidates are not forced out of contests. He closed with his slogan that a new Nigeria is possible.
What happens next
The court's decision affects the ADC's leadership and the steps taken by the chairman whose emergence was nullified. The sources did not say whether the party or the chairman will appeal, or what the ruling means for ADC candidates ahead of the election. For now, the case adds to the uncertainty hanging over the party as campaigns build up.
