CNPP Condemns Court Order Deregistering Five Political Parties, Alleges State Capture

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties has strongly condemned a court judgment directing INEC to withdraw the registration of five political parties, describing it as a dangerous attack on Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, Comrade James Ezema, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday over the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, which ordered the deregistration of the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, APP, and Zenith Labour Party. “The judgment represents not merely a legal controversy but a direct assault on Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, multiparty political system, and the fundamental rights of citizens,” the statement declared.

The organization also expressed alarm over what it described as the active involvement of the Attorney-General, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, in supporting the suit against opposition parties. “More disturbing is the active role played by the Attorney-General, who reportedly deployed his office to formally support a suit seeking deregistration of opposition parties,” the CNPP stated.

The group argued that such actions fuel public concerns that INEC is being arm-twisted to carry out the political desires of the ruling APC.

The CNPP maintained that the court action forms part of a broader pattern to weaken opposition platforms and suppress competition ahead of 2027. “Nigeria’s democracy cannot survive where the government is perceived as controlling the executive, influencing the legislature, and now shaping the political landscape through judicial processes,” Ezema said.

In a strong section of the statement, the CNPP argued that recent developments point to what it described as an alarming pattern of state capture. “What Nigerians are witnessing today increasingly resembles a full-scale state capture operation,” the organization said, explaining that institutions are being manipulated for predetermined political outcomes.

The CNPP also linked the judgment to growing anxiety about electoral justice, asking what assurances exist that 2027 election disputes will be adjudicated impartially.

Ezema warned that the country appears to be drifting toward a quasi-military civilian administration where democratic institutions exist only in form. The CNPP called on all patriotic Nigerians, pro-democracy groups, labour unions, civil society, and religious leaders to defend democratic values. “This is not merely about the fate of five political parties; it is about the future of democracy itself,” the statement declared.

The organization also appealed to the international community to closely monitor developments in Nigeria, saying warning signs have become increasingly obvious. “We reject any attempt to use judicial processes or executive influence to shrink the democratic space,” Ezema concluded, insisting that Nigeria’s future must be decided by the ballot box.

The CNPP further reiterated that democracy cannot thrive where opposition voices are systematically diminished and constitutional institutions are perceived as serving partisan interests.