Tension escalated in Abuja on Monday as protesters stormed the Federal High Court, opposing moves to deregister key opposition parties in Nigeria.
The demonstrators, under the banner of Concerned Northern Nigeria Stakeholders, marched toward the court complex in Wuse, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with inscriptions such as “No Opposition, No Election” and “Let Democracy Breathe.”
Security operatives, including officials of the Department of State Services, barricaded the court entrance, preventing the protesters from gaining access.
Addressing journalists, the group’s leader, Banki Sharrif, accused the government of undermining democratic institutions and interfering in judicial processes.
“We call on Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately cease all forms of interference with the judiciary. Courts must never be reduced to instruments of political engineering,” he said.
Sharrif warned that weakening opposition parties could erode public trust in democracy, stressing that political competition remains essential for credible elections.
“A government that seeks to weaken opposition betrays a lack of confidence in its legitimacy. Democracy thrives on competition,” he added.
The protesters also raised concerns about the role of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, urging neutrality in ongoing legal proceedings.
“The Office of the Attorney General must remain firmly anchored in the rule of law. It must not be weaponised for political ends,” Sharrif stated.
The protest follows a suit backed by the Attorney General seeking the deregistration of several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
According to court filings, the move is based on claims that the parties failed to meet constitutional requirements, thereby undermining electoral integrity.
However, the protesters argued that such actions could disenfranchise voters and destabilise the political system if not handled transparently.
They warned that any perception of judicial bias could push citizens away from legal processes.
“Where the judiciary is seen as an extension of the executive, people will lose faith in lawful remedies. When courts fail, the streets become the courtroom,” Sharrif cautioned.
The situation highlights growing political tension in Nigeria as legal battles and party disputes intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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