ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to emulate the democratic example of former Presidents Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, insisting that neither leader sought to deregister opposition political parties despite fierce political rivalry during their time in office.
Atiku made the call while reacting to what he described as moves to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) through the courts, alleging that the action was designed to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president described the reported move as part of a broader agenda to establish a one-party state, warning that such actions could undermine Nigeria’s democratic system.
According to him, attempts to stifle political competition run contrary to democratic principles and risk eroding public confidence in the country’s electoral process.
He maintained that Nigerians should be free to participate in credible elections and choose their leaders without undue interference.
Atiku also alleged that the reported efforts to deregister the NDC contradicted President Tinubu’s repeated commitment to democratic values.
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The Waziri of Adamawa urged Tinubu to take a cue from the late President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that although Buhari was a retired military officer who later became a civilian president, he never deregistered any opposition political party throughout his administration.
He equally cited former President Goodluck Jonathan as an example of democratic leadership, recalling Jonathan’s consistent position that political ambition should never come at the expense of human lives.
“If you’re truly popular and your policies have positively bettered the lives of the citizens, you shouldn’t be afraid of a free and fair competition,” Atiku said.
He argued that leaders strengthen democracy by allowing open political competition rather than attempting to weaken opposition parties.
The former vice president also appealed to members of the judiciary to protect the independence and integrity of the courts.
He urged judges to resist any attempt by politicians to manipulate the judicial process for partisan interests, stressing that the judiciary remains a vital institution for sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.
Atiku further warned that the actions of a few judicial officers could damage public confidence in the judiciary and called for strict adherence to the rule of law.