Deregistration: Plot to weaken opposition – Olawepo-Hashim

Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described a Federal High Court ruling ordering the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and Accord Party, as a plot to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Olawepo-Hashim said this in a statement on Tuesday, lamenting that the order was a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

According to him, the judgment reinforced concerns he had earlier raised since 2024 about what he described as a coordinated effort to weaken opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He alleged that recent developments in the political space indicate attempts to reduce political competition by weakening opposition parties and their structures.

The Kwara-born politician reiterated that opposition governors have come under pressure to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, while opposition parties have also been weakened by internal disputes and leadership crises.

He equally accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of implementing an electoral timetable he claimed is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, alleging that the commission has failed to make necessary adjustments despite ongoing legal challenges.

“This judgment is a major setback for opposition politics and democratic participation. Nigeria’s democracy is built on multi-party participation and urged stakeholders to protect democratic institutions and ensure electoral integrity.

“I call on political parties, civil society organisations, pro-democracy groups, and citizens to remain actively engaged in defending democratic processes and strengthening the country’s electoral system,” he said.