Atiku Group Warns Of Democracy Breakdown Over ADC Judgment

United Friends of Atiku (UFA), a support group backing the presidential aspiration of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has warned that conflicting court rulings over the legitimacy of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) could lead to a total breakdown of the democratic process.

The group said on Thursday that judgment of a Federal High Court invalidating the leadership of the ADC and the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar on the party’s platform was a dangerous development capable of undermining political competition and denying Nigerians the right to choose their leaders freely.

At a media conference in Abuja, addressed by the leader of the UFA, Aliyu Audu, the group accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of weaponising state institutions and the Judiciary to pursue a political agenda.

Audu further warned that the systematic weakening of opposition parties could turn elections into an authoritarian selection process rather than a genuine democratic exercise.

It expressed concern that the judgment contradicted an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman, delivered on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, which affirmed the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.

It urged the Court of Appeal to urgently address the conflicting decisions, warning that allowing them to stand could institutionalise legal uncertainty and erode public confidence in the Judiciary.

“Democratic erosion does not always announce itself through military rule. It happens when institutions are gradually weakened, political participation is narrowed, and credible alternatives are systematically dismantled through state machinery,” Aliyu said.

The group called on the appellate court to accord any appeal arising from Justice Peter Lifu’s judgment the utmost urgency.

It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to discharge its responsibilities strictly in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and final judicial decisions, without political interference.

Aliyu appealed to the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, the United States, United Kingdom and European Union to closely monitor developments and exert diplomatic pressure to ensure Nigeria’s electoral process is not undermined.

He warned that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy was critical to stability in the West African sub-region, urging Nigerians to remain peaceful and committed to constitutional democracy.

The group cautioned the government against pushing citizens beyond their limits. “When a goat is pushed to the wall, it fights back, even against its owner,” it said, warning against denying Nigerians their political choices before they reach the ballot box.

The group insisted that democracy belongs to the people, not the Presidential Villa, and called for a political process in which all parties are allowed to compete freely.