A Judiciary Under Scrutiny

Nigeria’s judiciary is once again at the center of political controversy. The Court of Appeal’s decision to halt the deregistration of five opposition parties—ADC, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party—was not just a legal correction. It was a rebuke of judicial overreach and a reminder of the fragile balance between law and politics.

The appellate court’s sharp criticism of Justice Peter Lifu’s ruling highlights a deeper issue: the credibility of Nigeria’s judicial system. By ignoring a superior court’s directive, the lower court risked undermining the very foundation of judicial hierarchy.

INEC’s Position and the Shock Factor
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supported the stay of execution, admitting it only learned of the lower court’s judgment through media reports. This revelation raises questions about transparency in judicial processes. How could the nation’s electoral umpire be sidelined in a matter that directly affects its mandate?

INEC’s stance suggests that even institutions central to Nigeria’s democracy are vulnerable to sudden judicial maneuvers.

Opposition Parties and the Fear of Shrinking Space
For the affected parties, the ruling was more than a technical legal battle. It was a fight for survival. Political actors like Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and Prince Adewole Adebayo warned that deregistration would weaken opposition politics and pave the way for a one-party state.

Their concerns echo a broader fear: that Nigeria’s democratic space is shrinking under coordinated political and judicial pressures.

The Constitutional Debate
Supporters of the lower court ruling, such as Ondo State Attorney-General Kayode Ajulo, argue that the judgment was a faithful interpretation of Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution. This provision empowers INEC to deregister parties that fail to meet electoral performance thresholds.

But critics counter that democracy is not merely about thresholds. It is about choice, pluralism, and the right of citizens to associate freely. The clash between constitutional enforcement and democratic ideals is at the heart of this controversy.

Political Fallout Ahead of 2027
The timing of the deregistration battle is crucial. With the 2027 elections looming, opposition parties see the ruling as part of a broader strategy to consolidate power around the ruling APC. Allegations of political intimidation, defections, and judicial manipulation fuel suspicions of a deliberate plan to weaken rivals before the polls.

Timi Frank’s warning of a potential national crisis underscores the stakes. If opposition parties are deregistered, Nigeria risks sliding into political instability.

Judicial Discipline and Integrity
The appellate court’s language was unusually strong, describing Justice Lifu’s conduct as “judicial impertinence” and “rascality.” Such terms reflect frustration within the judiciary itself. The call for disciplinary measures against errant judges is not just about this case—it is about restoring public confidence in the courts.

Without judicial integrity, democracy cannot thrive.

Civil Society and Democratic Resistance
Civil society groups and political coalitions like the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have framed the deregistration attempt as a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic system. Their statements highlight a growing resistance to what they describe as “executive rascality” and “state capture.”

This resistance is vital. Democracy survives not only through institutions but also through active citizen engagement.

The Bigger Picture: Democracy at a Crossroads
Nigeria’s democracy is at a crossroads. The deregistration saga is more than a legal dispute—it is a test of whether the country can maintain a multiparty system in the face of political consolidation.

The Court of Appeal’s intervention offers temporary relief, but the underlying tensions remain. As the 2027 elections approach, the battle over party survival will shape the future of Nigeria’s political landscape.

The Court of Appeal’s decision to halt the deregistration of five opposition parties is a victory for judicial hierarchy and democratic pluralism. Yet, it also exposes the fragility of Nigeria’s institutions and the risks of political manipulation.

Whether Nigeria can safeguard its democracy depends on the integrity of its judiciary, the vigilance of its citizens, and the resilience of its political parties. The coming months will reveal whether this ruling was a turning point—or merely a pause in a larger struggle for democratic survival.

Barely 24 hours after a Katsina State High Court sentenced to death a female arms courier arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), a High Court of Kogi State has also imposed the death penalty on a man the DSS successfully prosecuted for kidnapping and murdering his neighbour, who ran a hotel in Obajana.

The Katsina and Kogi sentences came less than two weeks after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, imposed the death penalty on four men arrested by the DSS for carrying out the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The Kogi court, presided over by Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, on Tuesday, found Jibrin Halilu guilty on the charges of conspiracy and kidnapping, in contravention of Sections 12, 6 (1), and 4 (3)(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023. The court subsequently sentenced Halilu to death.

According to the prosecution, on March 23, 2023, Halilu and other members of his armed gang stormed Ever Ready hotel, Angwa-Tiv, in Obajana town,
abducting the proprietor, Uche Andrew Offo. Even though Offo’s family handed his abductors the N2.5 million ransom they demanded, they, nonetheless, killed him.
The DSS prosecutor told the court that operatives of the Service arrested Halilu on December 4, 2025.

“DSS investigations revealed that, while with his abductors, Offo was able to identify Halilu, who happened to be his neighbour, as being part of those who kidnapped him. That was when Halilu, despite the N2.5 million ransom he collected from Offo’s family, still killed him.

“Further investigations by the DSS also linked Halilu and his gang to the April 2, 2023 kidnapping of one Ibrahim Abdullahi, a resident of Oshokoshoko Community in Lokoja, from whom the gang collected a N5 million ransom,” a source also revealed.
The Kogi and Katsina convictions and sentencings come on the heels of a June 3, 2026, landmark verdict by a Federal High Court in Abuja sentencing four men to death for their roles in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The court sentenced the quartet of Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris to death by hanging for the attack which resulted in the death of over 40 worshippers and left over 100 persons injured.

“These convictions mark a significant run of courtroom victories for the DSS, reinforcing the message that those who engage in terrorism, kidnapping, and armed violence will not only be caught, but will be prosecuted and made to face the full consequences of their actions,” the source declared.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) announced a new anti-defection policy in which all its candidates for elections must sign indemnity and affidavit forms. The goal of the policy is to ensure that once elected, any elected officer must forfeit his seat should he choose to defect from the party.

A decisive step to stem political defections
The NDC chairman, Moses Cleopas, said this at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja while explaining the policy, noting that it’s one step to safeguard the party’s mandate, a bid to check party indiscipline. He stated that defections have made opposition parties weaker and ” Nigerians do not trust their politicians.”

According to him, he had seen cases like that of the Labour party where a lot of elected officials of the party abandoned the platform after the 2023 general elections. Cleopas also noted that the party will not permit the use of the party platform as a launch pad and “come back later when it’s time to campaign.”

Binding promises from candidates
Candidates seeking election under the NDC are required to sign an affidavit and an indemnity form. Both forms are meant to legally bind the elected official to abandon his post once he defects from the party. Cleopas emphasized that membership into the party is voluntarily, but members who aspire to contest under the platform of the NDC, have the binding obligation to adhere to the party’s terms and conditions.

“If you win, the mandate belongs to the party. If you otherwise choose to leave, go the same way you came and leave what you picked from here”, he added.

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Legal explanation
The legal advisor to the NDC, Reuben Egwuaba who clarified that the section used for this is section 222 of the 1999 Constitution, said the elected official is an agent to the party and that mandate belongs to the party till the tenure of the elected officer ends. According to him, “party membership is the act of belonging to a voluntary organization, where every member agrees with certain internal rules and procedures that are binding”.

In view of these constitutional explanations and the fact that opportunistic defection destabilizes the polity, it is not unlawful.

Effects of this pact on notable politicians
High profile party members like presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other recent additions to the party are expected to be significantly affected by this pact, as both are known to have a history of political defection in the past. Aisha Binani, a former governorship candidate in Adamawa, is one of the recent members to join the party; she and other prominent members of the party will be expected to sign.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress party’s anti-defection policy is also being looked at in view of how it would affect elections scheduled for 2027.

Nigeria’s political landscape of defection is being reshaped by the new pact which positions the party as one that values its mandate and loyalty from its candidates. It will be interesting to see how candidates react to the demands of this pact. Only time will tell whether this policy would be constitutionally permissible; but the party clearly demands loyalty in return for its support.