The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strong condemnation of a recent Supreme Court judgment, labeling it a form of constitutional tyranny that poses a grave danger to Nigeria's democracy and federal structure.
A Dangerous Precedent for Democracy
In a statement released on 17 December 2025 and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed profound shock at the apex court's decision. The ruling effectively endorses the President's powers to suspend elected state governors and dismantle state assemblies during a declared state of emergency.
The ADC argued that the court has, through this judgment, created what it calls a constitutional tyrant. The party insists this move is fundamentally wrong, undermines the core principles of democracy, and is a purely academic exercise with real-world peril.
The Core of the Controversial Judgment
The party detailed the concerning aspects of the Supreme Court's position. According to the judgment, the President holds the discretion to determine the measures needed to restore peace and security after proclaiming a state of emergency in any state.
This grants the executive the authority to take any extraordinary measures deemed necessary to achieve peace. The ADC highlighted the alarming implication: a sitting President or his agents could theoretically engineer a security crisis in a state with an unfriendly governor and use it as a pretext to suspend both the governor and the state legislature.
Contradiction and Concentrated Power
The ADC pointed out a glaring contradiction in the ruling. While the judgment notes that the Constitution establishes no arm or tier of government as superior to another, its practical effect suggests the opposite.
The clear outcome is the concentration of excessive power in the Presidency, granting it firm control over the political conduct of state governors. This, the party warned, strikes at the heart of Nigeria's federal system.
Although the ruling might appear academic on the surface, the ADC characterized it as a potential inflection point in the nation's democratic journey. The party fears it could alter the nature of Nigerian democracy permanently by setting a dangerous legal precedent for executive overreach.
The ADC concluded by reiterating that it considers this Supreme Court judgment an extremely dangerous threat that must be critically examined by all stakeholders committed to preserving Nigeria's federalism and democratic integrity.
