• Says democracy under threat
• Court adjourns Accord Party’s presidential ticket suit to today
• Deregistration: A’Court reserves judgment on ADC, four others

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, has condemned what he described as a calculated attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy through the misuse of state institutions and judicial processes.

George made the remarks, yesterday, while reacting to the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses conducted by committees constituted by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The PDP chieftain said the development reflects a troubling pattern of political interference aimed at weakening opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, recent events suggest a deliberate effort to deploy state institutions against opposition political parties,

George, who also criticised Abdulrahman Mohammed, identified as the chairman of the Nyesom Wike-backed faction of the PDP, said that he (Mohammed) lacks the democratic credentials and political experience to lead a party of the PDP’s stature.

MEANWHILE, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the substantive hearing of a suit filed by Accord Party chieftain, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, seeking an order compelling the party to recognise him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections and forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The adjournment followed INEC’s late entry into the dispute, after both the party and the electoral body served fresh court processes on Hashim’s legal team shortly before Tuesday’s hearing began.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Henry Akunebu (SAN), told the court that the documents had only just been received and requested time to study and respond before the substantive hearing could proceed.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted the request and adjourned the matter to today, July 15, 2026.
RELATEDLY, the Court of Appeal in Abuja yesterday reserved judgment in the substantive appeals challenging the Federal High Court judgment ordering INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

A three-member panel of justices of the court, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, reserved judgment after counsel to all parties adopted their briefs of argument and made final oral submissions in the matter.

The court said the judgment date would be communicated to the parties.

Earlier on Tuesday, the court dismissed an application by a faction of the Action Alliance (AA) seeking to replace the party’s counsel in one of the appeals arising from the deregistration case.

However, a faction of the ADC led by its National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, yesterday, called on INEC to immediately remove the names of David Mark and members of his National Working Committee (NWC) from the Commission’s portal.

In a statement, Gombe said INEC should upload and recognise only what he described as the authentic NWC of the party, in compliance with a court judgment.

The faction also warned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to stop presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.