RismadarVoice Reporters, June 30, 2026
Hundreds of youths of the African Democratic Congress on Tuesday staged a protest in Abuja, calling for the removal of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court over a ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties.
The protesters, led by the party’s National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufai, marched from the ADC national secretariat in Wuse II to the Federal High Court in Maitama, chanting slogans demanding the judge’s removal.
They carried placards with inscriptions including “Judiciary is not for sale,” “Judiciary is our last hope,” “Don’t force Nigerians into chaos,” “Save our democracy now,” and “No to one-party state.”
The demonstrators vowed to continue their protests until Justice Lifu is removed, insisting that the ADC must be allowed to participate in the 2027 general elections.
Some protesters also chanted, “No ADC, no election,” accusing the judiciary of taking actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Rufai appealed to former Nigerian leaders, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Ibrahim Babangida and Goodluck Jonathan, to intervene in what he described as attempts to weaken opposition parties and move the country toward a one-party state.
He expressed concern that judicial decisions such as the one delivered by Justice Lifu could erode public confidence in the courts and urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene.
Rufai disclosed that the party had petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), accusing Justice Lifu of proceeding with the matter despite what he claimed was a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal staying further proceedings.
According to him, the petition alleges that the judge disregarded established judicial procedures and engaged in conduct amounting to gross misconduct.
He said the party had yet to receive a response from the NJC, adding that the protest was prompted by what it described as the council’s silence on the matter.
The demonstration comes amid ongoing legal disputes over the status of the ADC and follows recent court proceedings challenging the party’s continued registration by INEC.
As of the time of filing this report, the National Judicial Council had not publicly responded to the petition submitted by the party.
