Paul Ibe, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
Court Orders Deregistration of Five Parties
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order on June 15, 2026, directing INEC to deregister the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The judge determined that these parties failed to meet the required benchmarks to retain their registration with the electoral body.
Atiku's Aide Reacts
Reacting to the development, Paul Ibe described the judgment as a dangerous step toward undermining the opposition and entrenching a de facto one-party state. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ibe labeled the ruling as "the height of judicial rascality."
Ibe recalled that the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justices Mohammed A. Danjuma, Adebunkunola A. Banjoko, and Oyejoju O. Oyewumi, had previously issued an order in Appeal CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026 and suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, instructing Justice Peter Lifu to stay further action on the matter until the hearing and determination of the appeal. The appeal hearing was scheduled for October 27, 2026, and the stay order was dated May 22, 2026.
Ibe urged Nigerians and the international community to recognize the desperation of the ruling party's government, which he said is determined to either manipulate the 2027 elections or destroy the democracy that was achieved at great cost.
