The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Seriake Dickson, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of relying on flimsy excuses to truncate opposition in the country.

“What people are trying to do is to look for flimsy excuses to truncate, destabilise, weaken and scatter the political opposition. It is worrisome,” Mr Dickson said in an interview aired on Channels TV on Sunday. 

The politician’s allegation came days after the Federal High Court, Lokoja Division, set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.

Mr Dickson argued that symbols were not enough to deregister a political party, alleging attempts to demarket the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He added, “For five years, INEC is at liberty to allow other parties to use that symbol. Symbols are not reasons to deregister a political party.

“For a party that’s now growing and working working so hard to present credible, dynamic and charismatic set of political leaders, it should push this with care. All of us have a duty to nurture and protect our nation’s democracy. The plan to frustrate NDC from the ballot will not succeed.”

Following the ruling, Peter Obi, the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, accused Mr Tinubu of plotting to block him from contesting in the forthcoming general elections.

“Today, the federal government is doing everything possible to stop me from becoming a candidate in this 2027 election, I can tell you for a fact they won’t win,” Mr Obi said.