•Dr. Gbenga Hashim
The Co-Chairman of the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR) and Presidential Candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has described the Federal High Court order directing the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Accord Party, as evidence of what he called a systematic effort to weaken opposition politics and undermine democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the court ruling in a statement issued by his campaign office today, Hashim said the development validates concerns he had repeatedly raised since 2024 regarding what he alleged was a coordinated strategy to make President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the only viable presidential contender in 2027.
According to him, recent developments in the nation’s political landscape indicate a deliberate and multi-layered effort aimed at weakening opposition parties and restricting political competition, reports Daily Independent.
Hashim recalled that he had consistently warned that opposition governors were being pressured to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that those who resisted faced political intimidation and blackmail.
“Those who refused are hunted and blackmailed,” he stated.
He argued that after securing the defection of several opposition governors, attention shifted to weakening the structures of opposition political parties at the national level.
The presidential candidate of Accord also alleged that individuals sympathetic to the ruling party had been deployed to destabilize major opposition platforms through internal disputes and leadership crises.
According to him, the prolonged factional conflicts witnessed within some opposition parties over the past two years were not accidental but part of a broader strategy to weaken alternative political platforms before the next general election.
Hashim further criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral body of operating an election timetable that he described as inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
He claimed that despite a court judgment challenging aspects of the timetable, INEC had failed to make the necessary adjustments, thereby creating obstacles for opposition parties.
Referring specifically to the Federal High Court’s order directing the deregistration of ADC, Accord Party and three other parties, Hashim described the ruling as the most significant step yet in what he alleged was a wider plan to shrink the democratic space.
“This is not only to destabilise the parties, but to ensure that the parties are not able to survive the illegal INEC processes to ensure only Tinubu can be a viable candidate,” he said.
“With the latest development from the Federal High Court ordering deregistration of opposition political parties, it is now clear beyond any reasonable doubt that President Tinubu is determined to kill Nigeria’s democracy,” he stated.
Gbenga Hashim stated that, the founding fathers of our Republic chose Multi-Party democracy as a fundamental pillar of our democracy at independence and the 1999 constitution guarantees it.
“We must therefore not allow one man acting through surrogates and agents to demolish it, he said.
Hashim further noted that, the so-called deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) along with other parties by Justice Peter Lifu may yet be the biggest manifestation of Tinubu’s hell bent bid to undermine the opposition and entrench a de facto one party state.
“The judgment is the height of judicial rascality”
The Court of Appeal presided over by Justices Mohammed A. Danjuma, Adebunkunola A. Banjoko, Oyejoju O. Oyewumi had in Appeal CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026 and suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025 ordered Justice Peter Lifu to stay further action on the matter until the hearing and determination of the Appeal before it.
The hearing for the appeal was scheduled for the 27th of October 2026. That order was dated 22nd of May 2026.
Nigerians and the international community can see the level of desperation by the APC Government to either have its way in the 2027 elections or destroy our democracy that was earned through huge sacrifice, sweat, blood and lives of our heroes and martyrs, Hashim said.
The MDR Co-Chairman therefore called on political parties, civil society organisations, pro-democracy groups and citizens across the country to unite in defence of democratic institutions and electoral integrity.
To his supporters, he urged “Stand firm with the Movement for Democratic Renewal. Stand firm with the Party, Accord. Stand in defence of democracy.”
