Fresh concerns over the future of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy have emerged following recent court pronouncements affecting some political parties, with smaller platforms expressing fears that legal disputes and deregistration threats could undermine their participation in the 2027 general elections.
The development has reignited debate on political inclusion, constitutional freedoms and the sustainability of Nigeria’s multi-party system, amid warnings that a shrinking political space could consolidate political influence in the hands of a few dominant parties.
The latest concerns followed a ruling by a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja affecting the status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside earlier judicial decisions involving other political parties.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there are currently 22 registered political parties eligible to participate in the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
Under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a political party may be deregistered if it breaches constitutional requirements, fails to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in one state in a presidential election or one local government area in a governorship election, or fails to win a seat in the National Assembly, a State House of Assembly, a chairmanship election or a councillorship election.
A Sokoto-based lawyer, Barrister Patrick Agba Vanger, said deregistration in line with constitutional provisions does not threaten democracy but rather strengthens it.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, Vanger argued that political parties are products of legislation and must comply with the requirements governing their existence.
“No organisation can exist in a vacuum. There must be guidelines. Freedom of association comes with responsibilities, and where parties fail to satisfy the conditions provided by law, deregistration cannot be seen as an attack on democracy,” he said.
He maintained that court rulings based on established legal provisions and party guidelines ultimately reinforce democratic principles.
However, Barrister Abdullahi Ali said the issue remains central to debates over balancing legal compliance with political inclusion in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Political analyst Mikairu Muhammed warned that legal disputes, organisational weaknesses and compliance pressures could determine how many parties remain active and competitive by 2027.
He noted that persistent leadership crises, prolonged litigation and financial constraints have weakened many smaller parties and distracted them from grassroots mobilisation.
“Meeting responsibilities such as conducting regular congresses, sustaining state chapters and maintaining administrative presence nationwide has become increasingly challenging, particularly for parties with limited financial resources,” he said.
Recent legal battles involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress have further heightened concerns.
While the ADC recently resolved a leadership dispute through the courts, the NDC continues to challenge a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja affecting its registration status, insisting that it remains a duly registered political platform.
Also speaking, Dr Christian Okeke, a political scientist at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, warned that prolonged legal battles and internal crises could weaken smaller parties and reduce public confidence in alternative political platforms.
“When the political space is stifled, it produces dire consequences. Elections are a democratic contest and not something that should attract attempts to annihilate opposition platforms,” he said.
Similarly, Mal Abubakar Al-Sadique of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, expressed concern over what he described as the growing influence of the judiciary in determining Nigeria’s political direction.
He argued that political institutions should be strong enough to resolve internal disputes without excessive dependence on the courts.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) also warned that deregistration through judicial pronouncements could undermine democratic pluralism and constitutional guarantees of freedom of association.
IPAC National Publicity Secretary, Martins Egbeola, urged the National Judicial Council to safeguard judicial independence and maintain public confidence in the judiciary.
“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and must never be perceived as a tool in the hands of politicians,” he said.
On his part, former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, similarly cautioned against moves that could weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, the independence of the judiciary remains fundamental to preserving democratic institutions and sustaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Social Democratic Party presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, condemned moves aimed at deregistering political parties, describing such actions as unconstitutional and inconsistent with Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
He urged Nigerians and democratic institutions to protect constitutional freedoms and preserve the country’s multi-party system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
