Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has described the Lokoja court judgment that set aside the ruling which led to the party’s registration as a disturbing attack on Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the country is witnessing a systematic weakening of institutions meant to safeguard democratic freedoms.
In a strongly worded reaction on Friday, Obi said the development was not merely about the fate of a political party but about the future of democracy itself, arguing that every Nigerian who believes in justice, fairness and political pluralism should be alarmed.
The former Anambra State governor said he received news of the judgment while attending engagements in Imo State, where he visited the School of Nursing Sciences in Emekuku, participated in activities marking the 80th birthday of Emeritus Archbishop Anthony Obinna and later attended an event at Madonna University.
“It was at Madonna University that I received the court news of the Lokoja court rulings through my brother, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” Obi said.
Reacting to the verdict, Obi warned that recent political developments point to a troubling pattern in which institutions of state are increasingly being deployed in ways that diminish public confidence and weaken democratic competition.
“Every Nigerian committed to the country’s progress should be deeply concerned. This judgment represents another setback for our democracy and the institutions upon which our future depends,” he stated.
Without directly naming the ruling party, Obi accused some political actors of pursuing power at the expense of democratic values and institutional integrity.
“It is regrettable that some who claim to champion democracy now appear determined to weaken the very institutions that sustain it. In doing so, they are undermining public confidence and endangering the future of millions of Nigerians.”
He said the growing erosion of institutional independence, particularly within the legislature and judiciary, poses a grave threat to the country’s democratic future.
“The legislature and the judiciary are increasingly being drawn into this pattern of institutional decline. Democracy cannot thrive where institutions lose their independence and credibility,” he warned.
Obi’s comments come amid mounting criticism from opposition figures who view recent judicial actions affecting opposition parties as attempts to narrow Nigeria’s political space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC presidential candidate insisted that the issue transcends partisan politics and should concern all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation.
“When a similar situation recently affected the ADC, I condemned it without hesitation. I do so again today because my position has always been guided by principle,” he said.
“My concern is not about who becomes President. My concern is that Nigeria works.”
According to Obi, Nigeria risks undermining the foundations of its democracy if institutions become instruments for political advantage rather than impartial guardians of the rule of law.
“Our politics must move beyond the quest for power and focus instead on building a united nation founded on justice, strong institutions, the rule of law and equal opportunity. That is the Nigeria we owe ourselves and the one we must leave for future generations.”
Calling for vigilance, Obi urged Nigerians to defend democratic institutions before irreversible damage is done.
“I therefore urge all well-meaning Nigerians to rise above partisan interests and defend our democracy. The survival of our institutions is inseparable from the survival of our nation.”
His intervention adds to growing opposition outrage over the Lokoja judgment, which the NDC has vowed to challenge on appeal.
For Obi, however, the bigger issue is what he sees as an emerging threat to democratic choice.
The former governor warned that democracy loses its meaning when institutions designed to guarantee fairness become vulnerable to political manipulation, insisting that Nigeria must never slide into a system where opposition voices are weakened and electoral competition is stifled.
“It is when we work together that a New Nigeria of our dream is made possible,” he said.