Deregistration: NDC case orchestrated, filed two days after Peter Obi joined party — Rufai Oseni

Arise Television’s anchor, Rufai Oseni, has alleged that the legal challenge against the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, was orchestrated to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Monday, Oseni claimed the timing of the lawsuit challenging the party’s registration raised questions, noting that it was filed two days after Peter Obi joined the NDC.

According to him, Obi officially joined the party on May 3, while the suit seeking to nullify the NDC registration was instituted on May 5 by what he described as a “faceless group.”

The broadcaster said the development followed what he called a familiar pattern, alleging that similar legal actions had been taken against opposition parties in recent months.

He questioned the circumstances surrounding the suit, arguing that groups now challenging the party’s registration had not previously raised objections.

Oseni also referenced the court proceedings involving the ADC, saying the judgment had attracted criticism.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to issue the necessary code that would enable the party to upload required documents, warning that any action perceived as limiting opposition participation could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

He maintained that the sequence of events surrounding Obi’s defection to the NDC and the subsequent court case suggested a coordinated effort against the opposition, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Oseni said: “Let me start with NDC registration. I’m not surprised. I think I predicted it here. I said it. More will happen.

“You know why? There’s a grand attempt to ensure that opposition is weakened before the election, write it down. Grand attempt.

“Have you scrutinised the judgement? Have you seen the CTC?

“Peter Obi went to the NDC on the 3rd of May, that case was filed on the 5th of May in court. A lot of people have not even scrutinised that part.

“I said Peter Obi officially went to the NDC on the 3rd of May. The case was filed on the 5th of May by yet again another, you know, faceless group, and all of that, just like the one with the ADC, the same pattern.

“Like I predicted, since then nothing has happened to Justice Lifu. The only thing he got was a reprimand by the Court of Appeal, verbal reprimand.

“This too will go like that, so it’s a direct orchestration. I think the opposition party should not sleep, they’re going to have more.

“I mean, we’ve all seen the judgement. I don’t want to go into legalism, it falls flat on its face again. The NDC has said they’re going to get a stay of execution. Let’s see.

“I would like to advise INEC, please give them the issuance code. It’s not a big deal. Let parties be able to upload, because everything is looking like a grand conspiracy when you look at this election cycle, and I don’t know why some people are jittery. If you are confident, let opposition into the race. Don’t hold them back. Don’t do anything.

“In case your advisers are not advising you people well, you’re already tainting the credibility of the election by the time the elections will come. Anything that happens, these are part of the stories we are going to tell.

“So, if you feel you can win, win freely, nobody’s holding you from winning, but all of this shenanigan, all of this kangaroo manipulation, and all of that, it’s not fair.

“It goes back to our initial premise that a lot of people try defending “Oh, they are not attacking the opposition, they themselves have their own internal squabble.”