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Multiple sinister campaigns to eliminate Nigeria’s most formidable opposition platforms are allegedly underway ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Deputy Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has blown the whistle on what he describes as a “fresh plot” by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to use the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to forcefully delist the ADC.
But the ADC is not the only target. A parallel legal offensive recently nullified the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) — the new political home of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso. The ensued national outrage and outcry compelled INEC to retain NDC on the ballot box pending further permutations.
As the ruling party allegedly deploys state apparatus to shrink the democratic space, three urgent questions are dominating the political discourse: Why is President Tinubu seemingly determined to contest the 2027 election without major challengers? Why the onslaught against the ADC and NDC? And why is the administration so afraid of Peter Obi?
The “Dark Agenda” to Delist the Opposition
According to Timi Frank, the move to exclude the ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is a deliberate strategy to guarantee an uncontested path to power for the ruling party.
“We have been reliably informed of a fresh plot to use the judiciary and INEC to remove the ADC from the ballot come 2027. The ultimate objective is to ensure that the ADC and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, do not participate… What is being perfected is a dark agenda designed to silence opposition parties and perpetrate a massive electoral fraud,” Frank stated on Monday.
Frank warned that any attempt to strike the ADC and NDC from the ballot would be heavily resisted and would plunge Nigeria into chaos, urging the United States and the broader international community to intervene before the nation descends into “democratic barbarism.”
This alarm coincides with an aggressive wave of judicial rulings targeting opposition party registrations. Recently, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the deregistration of the ADC (alongside four other parties), citing a failure to meet constitutional thresholds. While the Court of Appeal has temporarily halted this deregistration, the legal sword continues to hang over Atiku Abubakar’s “unity and rescue ticket” alongside his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi.
Why is President Tinubu Defunding the Ballot?
The APC’s alleged deployment of judicial tricks against the ADC and NDC stems from a simple political calculus: fragmented opposition is manageable; consolidated opposition is lethal.
By leveraging state institutions and courts to challenge party registrations, the ruling party avoids fighting on policy or economic records. Instead, they aim to disqualify opponents on technicalities before a single vote is cast.
If both the ADC (Atiku Abubakar) and the newly formed NDC (Peter Obi) are caught in endless legal battles or stripped of their official INEC recognition, President Tinubu effectively clears the field. Contesting the presidential election alone—or against politically insignificant fringe parties—ensures a second term without the need to actively win over a frustrated electorate.
Why the APC is Afraid of Peter Obi and the NDC
The fear surrounding Peter Obi is deeply tied to the rapid, unprecedented rise of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Founded in early 2026, the NDC quickly became a powerhouse when Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso defected to the platform, pulling 17 House of Representatives members and several Senators with them. In May 2026, the NDC officially adopted Obi as its consensus presidential candidate.
The APC is deeply concerned about Obi for three distinct reasons:
- The Coalition Threat: Unlike 2023, where Obi and Kwankwaso split the opposition vote on separate platforms (Labour Party and NNPP), their alliance under the NDC presents a unified Southern-Northern populist front.
- The “Obidient” Base: Obi retains a massive, highly mobilized grassroots base that transcends traditional party machinery.
- Policy Contrast: Obi’s recent convention pledges—including a specific roadmap to deliver 10,000 megawatts of electricity—strike a sharp contrast to the economic hardships currently dominating the national mood.
This fear manifested swiftly in the courts. Barely weeks after Obi’s emergence as the NDC flagbearer, a Federal High Court in Lokoja dramatically set aside the earlier judgment that compelled INEC to register the party. The court abruptly ordered INEC to deregister the NDC over alleged “logo infringement,” effectively attempting to strip Obi of his 2027 political vehicle.
The International Appeal
Frank’s statement serves as a preemptive strike against what he views as the weaponization of the judiciary. “The current administration has thrown decorum to the wind and appears determined to truncate democracy for selfish political interests,” he declared.
With both Atiku Abubakar (ADC) and Peter Obi (NDC) currently fighting for their parties’ very survival in the appellate courts, the road to 2027 is shaping up to be a battle not just for votes, but for the fundamental right to appear on the ballot
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