Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s media aide, Paul Ibe, has called on key opposition figures including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to close ranks ahead of the 2027 general election.
His call followed Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which nullified an earlier judgment that directed the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
Ibe described the court decision as a major signal to opposition leaders, warning that political developments ahead of 2027 should no longer be taken lightly.
Reacting in a post on X, Atiku’s aide said the ruling should serve as a serious warning to opposition parties and political actors planning to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the next presidential election.
According to him, the latest development reflects growing pressure on opposition forces and highlights the urgent need for unity among leaders seeking political change in Nigeria.
He accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of allegedly pushing toward a one-party structure and weakening opposition platforms ahead of 2027.
Ibe said opposition leaders must begin to align their interests and build a stronger coalition if they intend to challenge the APC in the next election cycle.
He wrote: “The decision of the Federal High Court Lokoja in settting aside its earlier judgement on the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) should be a wake-up call that there is no hiding place for the opposition as the incompetent and clueless Tinubu @officialABAT sets his sights on enthroning a de facto one-party state.
“His message is loud and clear: that he will obliterate the opposition and destroy our hard-won democracy if he does not have his way in the 2027 election. It is not too late for the opposition to harmonize their strengths ahead of 2027 if the Yar’Adua 2.0 President Tinubu is to be retired to either Bourdillon or Iragbiji!”
The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja had earlier reversed its December 10, 2025 judgment which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the NDC.
Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the earlier judgment could not stand because it affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined in the original suit.
The PMP had argued that the logo adopted by the NDC belonged to the party, making its exclusion from the case a major procedural issue.
Counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, said the court’s latest decision effectively returned all parties to the positions they occupied before the December ruling.
He added that all processes and actions carried out by INEC based on the earlier judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, have now been reversed pending fresh hearing of the matter.
The court also directed that all relevant parties must be properly joined before the substantive suit can proceed again.
