Alleged move to deregister ADC, others could trigger national crisis, Timi Frank warns

….Seeks Trump’s intervention

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has raised the alarm over the reported deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties, warning that any attempt to eliminate major opposition platforms could trigger a national crisis and undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations.

Frank, in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, described the development as a direct threat to multi-party democracy and alleged that the reported court ruling formed part of a wider effort to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general election.

He called on President Donald Trump of the United States and members of the international community to urgently intervene to preserve Nigeria’s multi- party democracy alive.

According to him, reports indicated that the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Mohammed A. Danjuma, had earlier ordered Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court to stay further proceedings in the matter pending the hearing and determination of an appeal scheduled for October 27, 2026.

Frank, however, questioned the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the judgment, describing it as sudden, suspicious and inconsistent with due judicial process.

“The judgment came suddenly without prior notice to the parties involved. From the information available to us, it appeared that the judgment had been prepared elsewhere and simply delivered by the court,” he alleged.

He claimed that neither the parties nor their legal representatives were informed in advance that the judgment was ready for delivery.

“Nobody knew about it. There was no information and no briefing, even to the lawyers representing the parties. The judgment was given suddenly. It was something they plotted and cooked up to make it look legitimate without even notifying the parties involved,” Frank alleged.

Describing the ruling as a “mystery judgment,” Frank alleged that it was orchestrated to achieve a predetermined political outcome.

According to him, information available to his camp suggested that external interests may have influenced the preparation and delivery of the judgment.

“From the information we received, the judgment was written elsewhere and handed to the judge. The Office of the Attorney-General wrote the script and the judge merely played out that script,” he alleged.

Frank further alleged that the reported move to deregister opposition parties was part of a broader campaign to weaken political opposition and consolidate power.

“It must be noted that any attempt by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and those working with him to deregister political parties, particularly major opposition parties such as the ADC, will give rise to a crisis that may be difficult to contain,” he said.

The former APC spokesman argued that the controversy transcends partisan politics and touches on fundamental constitutional freedoms.

“This issue goes beyond ADC or any individual politician. It concerns the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate, participate in politics and choose their leaders through competitive and credible elections,” he stated.

Frank alleged that the current administration has consistently sought to undermine opposition parties through actions designed to create divisions and weaken their structures.

“We have seen efforts to weaken opposition parties across the board—from ADC to PDP, Labour Party and others. These actions appear aimed at suppressing alternative voices and consolidating political control,” he alleged.

He also expressed concern about what he described as growing perceptions regarding the independence of the judiciary.

“There are increasing concerns among Nigerians about the role of some judges and whether they are acting independently or under the influence of government officials. These concerns cannot be ignored,” he said.

Frank further alleged that the relationship between some members of the executive and the judiciary had raised questions about institutional independence.

“A government where a serving minister builds houses for judges, provides vehicles, allocates land and extends other benefits to members of the judiciary raises legitimate concerns. There is a growing perception that the judiciary has been captured by forces within government,” he alleged.

He also questioned what he described as the recurring involvement of a particular judge in politically sensitive cases.

“This particular judge is known for delivering controversial judgments. Most of the controversial judgments coming out of the Federal High Court are associated with this judge. Whenever there is an attempt to destabilise political parties or truncate democratic processes, this judge is usually assigned to handle the matter,” he alleged.

Frank maintained that many Nigerians viewed the ADC as a platform with broad national appeal that transcends ethnic, religious and regional divisions.

“The ADC and its presidential candidate represent, in the eyes of many Nigerians, a national movement that cuts across ethnic, regional and religious divides. Any attempt to cripple such a platform for political reasons will fail,” he said.

He further alleged that there was a growing belief among some Nigerians that certain political interests were seeking to prevent particular contenders from participating fully in the next presidential election.

“There is a growing belief among many Nigerians that this government does not want a northern candidate on the ballot and that this explains some of the actions being witnessed today,” he alleged.

Warning of the potential consequences of shrinking the democratic space, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said any attempt to transform Nigeria into a one-party state could have far-reaching implications for national stability.

“Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people. Any desperate attempt to turn the country into a one-party state could trigger unrest and a crisis that nobody can control. The consequences for national unity and democratic governance would be severe,” he warned.

He called on the international community to closely monitor developments in Nigeria and urged democratic institutions, civil society organisations, religious leaders, youth groups and professional bodies to defend the country’s democratic gains.

Frank also appealed to the administration of United States President Donald Trump and other democratic governments to pay close attention to political developments in Nigeria and take steps aimed at protecting democratic institutions and the rule of law.

“The time has come for all lovers of democracy to rise in defence of the democratic gains Nigerians have fought hard to achieve. Silence in the face of these developments could have far-reaching consequences for the future of our country,” he said.