Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer, has urged former Nigerian presidents and leading statesmen to resist what he calls a growing push toward a one-party state. This follows the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) recent derecognition of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership, a move that has sparked political tension. INEC, citing internal disputes, withdrew recognition from the ADC's national officers, prompting backlash from opposition figures. On Thursday, the commission requested military protection for its Abuja headquarters. The army responded by deploying armored personnel carriers and armed personnel to key positions around the building, conducting searches on staff and visitors.
Adeyanju accused elements within President Bola Tinubu's administration of exploiting the judiciary to block opposition parties from contesting the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued Friday and addressed to THE WHISTLER, he said, "I call on the President to urgently rein in all anti-democratic forces operating within and around his government, including those using the courts to frustrate the opposition." He warned that weakening parties like the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and ADC undermines democratic pluralism. "These actions are fundamentally undemocratic and must be halted," Adeyanju added. He urged former leaders and the international community to pay close attention, stressing that democracy depends on active opposition and public trust in institutions.
Adeyanju's warning lands at a time when INEC's neutrality is under visible strain, and the deployment of military hardware to its office signals a state on edge. His direct naming of anti-democratic forces within Tinubu's circle points to a deeper institutional rot, not just political noise. If opposition parties can be legally dismantled before elections, the 2027 vote risks being a managed succession, not a contest. For Nigerians, this could mean democracy reduced to ritual, not representation.
