A frontline political analyst, Mahmud Jega, has called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly condemn what he described as the growing trend of judicial actions targeting opposition political parties, warning that such developments could undermine Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Arise Television, Jega said the increasing perception that there is a coordinated effort to weaken opposition parties through the courts was becoming difficult to ignore, adding that the presidency must distance itself from any actions capable of eroding democratic institutions.

He said recent court rulings affecting several opposition parties, including the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), have reinforced public suspicion that some forces are working to prevent opposition parties from participating in the 2027 elections.

“After what happened in the PDP, politically it is very significant because, unfortunately, it adds to the widespread and growing perception that there is a concerted effort orchestrated by someone to stop all the opposition parties from contesting next year’s election,” Jega said.

He listed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) as parties that have recently faced legal disputes affecting their internal affairs or electoral participation.

“So the perception is growing that there is a concerted effort to stop all the opposition parties from contesting next year’s election. Now, actually, that will be like the end of democracy in Nigeria if we don’t have an opposition party,” he said.

Jega, however, said he could not identify those allegedly behind the trend but stressed that President Tinubu, as head of the country’s most powerful institution, should publicly reject any actions capable of weakening democratic competition.

“I don’t know who is orchestrating this, but it is very important for the presidency, because it is the most powerful institution in the country, to distance itself and discourage what is happening,” he said.

Drawing a parallel with events during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Jega recalled that in 2001, a Federal Capital Territory High Court halted the planned national convention of the then opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) just a day before it was scheduled to hold in Abuja.

According to him, thousands of party members had already gathered for the convention before the court order forced the event to be cancelled.

Jega said Obasanjo subsequently condemned the ruling during his monthly media chat, describing it as “wicked” three times, a response he said sent a strong signal in support of democratic principles.

He added that the National Judicial Council later took disciplinary action against the judge involved.

“It is very important for the presidency right now to do a similar thing,” Jega said, urging Tinubu to publicly denounce any judicial actions perceived as undermining Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.