The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has voiced alarm following a Federal High Court decision in Lokoja that cancelled the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko stated that this legal action transcends a simple court case, signaling potential risks to political diversity and suggesting that opposition voices may face exclusion before the 2027 general elections.
HURIWA emphasized that civil society groups are increasingly anxious, fearing that judicial proceedings might be utilized as political tools. Onwubiko argued that the controversy negatively impacts the constitutional right of citizens to associate freely and participate in competitive elections. The organization warned that public faith in democracy erodes when citizens suspect that political outcomes are dictated by courts rather than voters.
The association has urged President Bola Tinubu to explicitly support multiparty systems and fair competition. Furthermore, they called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain an impartial arbiter and requested that the National Judicial Council (NJC) prioritize judicial transparency to protect institutional integrity. HURIWA concluded by inviting international observers and local stakeholders to monitor the political climate, asserting that the future of Nigeria’s democratic competition is currently at risk.
