₦airaland Forum

POMR STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

" *Our sacred institutions must not be sacrificed on the altar of politics" - Obi reacts to the Court deregistration order.*

The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has decried the growing damage to the nation's sacred institutions on the altar of politics.

Reacting to the Federal High Court ruling today deregistering some political parties, including ADC, Obi remarked that the nation rises when institutions are stronger and not when they're politicised.

Writing on his X handle, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate said, "When the controversy surrounding the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world."

"Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.

"Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.

"We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. *The Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man's trust in our legal systems*; it should be reversed."

I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all.

"To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country! A new Nigeria is possible.
*E-sign* .
Ibrahim Umar.
POMR Spokesman
15 June 2026


https://newsense.ng/obi-condemns-court-ordered-deregistration-of-adc-warns-against-politicising-institutions/

Why is Peter always trying hard to tarnish the image of our reputable judges!

Peter is educated and should know how to address matters when he does not welcome a judgement. It’s not a hidden secret.

NDC even has higher chances of getting registered in 2031 because it’s already glaring they won’t meet up with the criteria.

HacheNoire:
Why is Peter always trying hard to tarnish the image of our reputable judges!

Peter is educated and should know how to address matters when he does not welcome a judgement. It’s not a hidden secret.

NDC even has higher chances of getting registered in 2031 because it’s already glaring they won’t meet up with the criteria.

Thank God you said registered,as a data boy talking without thinking.

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Thank God you said registered,as a data boy talking without thinking.

I swear, he shot himself on the foot with that typo. That's how God will mistakingly remove the menace in ASO ROCK for suffering Nigerians

Always crying...

HacheNoire:
Why is Peter always trying hard to tarnish the image of our reputable judges!

Peter is educated and should know how to address matters when he does not welcome a judgement. It’s not a hidden secret.

NDC even has higher chances of getting registered in 2031 because it’s already glaring they won’t meet up with the criteria.

Was any sacred institution sacrificed on the altar of politics when the same court ordered INEC to register NDC despite the fact that the party did not meet the requirements for registration as evaluated by INEC?

The People's President for a reason 😘...



When PO becomes the president, even Tinupoo and his hirelings will be alright and will always sing his praise for helping them out of their dark world

seunmsg:
Was any sacred institution sacrificed on the altar of politics when the same court ordered INEC to register NDC despite the fact that the party did not meet the requirements for registration as evaluated by INEC?

Gringory Obi is a Confused Hypocrite.

christejames:
The People's President for a reason 😘...



When PO becomes the president, even Tinupoo and his hirelings will be alright and will always sing his praise for helping them out of their dark world

When he becomes president in 2039 abi?

What u are wishing for, Tinubu & his hirelings have been enjoying same for the last 3 years that u have spent wailing in your dark world.

Person wey done pass u, done pass u.

Obi is just reacting in the name of I have reacted, if you ask him to explain the court judgment he can't

Kalashnikov49:
Always crying...

Like Gringory Obi.

What is POMR? That's the easiest thing to have defined in your release

HacheNoire:
Why is Peter always trying hard to tarnish the image of our reputable judges!

Peter is educated and should know how to address matters when he does not welcome a judgement. It’s not a hidden secret.

NDC even has higher chances of getting registered in 2031 because it’s already glaring they won’t meet up with the criteria.

Which reputable judges? The one collecting gifts from a serving minister?

How do the courts just wake up one day and deregister a popular party,were they approached by INEC or was given order to act by the executive.

Spectators:
POMR STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

" *Our sacred institutions must not be sacrificed on the altar of politics" - Obi reacts to the Court deregistration order.*

The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has decried the growing damage to the nation's sacred institutions on the altar of politics.

Reacting to the Federal High Court ruling today deregistering some political parties, including ADC, Obi remarked that the nation rises when institutions are stronger and not when they're politicised.

Writing on his X handle, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate said, "When the controversy surrounding the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world."

"Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.

"Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.

"We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. *The Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man's trust in our legal systems*; it should be reversed."

I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all.

"To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country! A new Nigeria is possible.
*E-sign* .
Ibrahim Umar.
POMR Spokesman
15 June 2026


https://newsense.ng/obi-condemns-court-ordered-deregistration-of-adc-warns-against-politicising-institutions/

This is another worrying example of Peter Obi’s poor judgment on democratic institutions.

A man who wants to be President should understand how rule of law works. If you disagree with a court judgment, you appeal. If you believe a judge acted improperly, there are institutional channels like the NJC.

But to immediately frame an unfavourable judgment as politics is dangerous. That is not defence of democracy; it is subtle delegitimisation of the judiciary.

The Federal High Court reportedly relied on constitutional performance thresholds for party deregistration. ADC itself says it will appeal, which is the proper legal route.

So why should an aspiring President speak as if the court exists only when judgments favour him?

Institutions are not sacred only when they validate our political interests. They are sacred even when they rule against us.

That is the difference between a democrat and a mob hero.

yarimo:
Obi is just reacting in the name of I have reacted, if you ask him to explain the court judgment he can't

Peter Obi often appears to react simply because “I must react.”

But leadership is not noise. Statesmanship requires restraint, depth and judgment.

If you ask many of those shouting about the ADC deregistration judgment to explain the legal reasoning, they probably cannot. The proper democratic response to a judgment you disagree with is appeal, not instant institutional delegitimisation.

A presidential aspirant must know when to speak, how to speak, and when silence is wiser.

The problem is not that Obi talks. The problem is that he too often speaks before demonstrating that he understands the full weight of what he is reacting to.

That is not statesmanship. That is political commentary dressed as leadership.
Leadership is not reacting to everything. Sometimes, judgment is knowing when not to speak.

seunmsg:
Was any sacred institution sacrificed on the altar of politics when the same court ordered INEC to register NDC despite the fact that the party did not meet the requirements for registration as evaluated by INEC?

Fantastic point.

Was any "sacred institution sacrificed on the altar of politics" when the same judiciary ordered INEC to register the NDC despite INEC's earlier determination that the requirements had not been met?

Apparently, judicial independence is only sacred when judgments favour one's political preferences.

This selective reverence for institutions is precisely the problem. Elections are free and fair when they win. Courts are independent when they rule in their favour. Judges are heroes when they validate their positions and agents of politics when they don't.

That is not democratic culture. That is partisan emotionalism masquerading as principle.[i][/i]

A true democrat respects institutions even when they deliver inconvenient outcomes. Otherwise, one is merely advocating the rule of preferred judgments, not the rule of law.

Institutions cannot be sacred on Monday and satanic on Tuesday simply because the verdict changed.

Consistency is the first test of conviction.

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Thank God you said registered,as a data boy talking without thinking.

Obidient spotted.!!

You people are becoming painfully predictable.

Make a substantive point, and instead of addressing it, you get "data boy," "BATist," or some other tired label.
It's like arguing with a broken record stuck on repeat.

Notice what happened here. A point was raised about consistency in attitudes towards judicial decisions. Rather than address the substance, you immediately resorted to sarcasm and name-calling.

This is precisely the problem with this bunch. Deflection has become a substitute for argument.

You accuse others of not thinking, yet your response contains no rebuttal, no facts, no counterargument—just labels.

A serious mind engages points. A partisan mind attacks personalities.

And that is why many people no longer take this obidients brand of politics seriously. It has become an echo chamber where disagreement is treated as heresy and insults are mistaken for intelligence.

If all you have in response to an argument is "data boy," then perhaps the data is winning.

Alaye is solidifying their position. NDC is practically guaranteed a win in 2031. It’s a simple, elegant maneuver.

seunmsg:
Was any sacred institution sacrificed on the altar of politics when the same court ordered INEC to register NDC despite the fact that the party did not meet the requirements for registration as evaluated by INEC?

On what legal basis is INEC refraining from registering new political parties while the incumbent government continues to destroy all existing parties? The law is not what Tinubu wants it to be, no matter who stands to benefit from it or is affected by it. If Tinubu is not interested in elections, he should say so and declare himself president instead of resorting to such cowardly antics that has never been seen before in the history of our democratic dispensation. Why should Wike's Justice Lifu go against an existing appeal Court judgement to rule on a matter and why should he give a Kangaroo judgement that is clearly wrong if not just to "buy time" and diminish the momentum of opposition parties as they head to appeal? Antics like this cost the ruling party votes from undecided voters and even from genuine APC voters that previously believed Tinubu stood a chance at the ballot.

magoo10:
How do the courts just wake up one day and deregister a popular party,were they approached by INEC or was given order to act by the executive.

Nah people carry those party go court. Mostly the ones that felt cheated on..

CharlesCNG:
Obidient spotted.!!

You people are becoming painfully predictable.

Make a substantive point, and instead of addressing it, you get "data boy," "BATist," or some other tired label.
It's like arguing with a broken record stuck on repeat.

Notice what happened here. A point was raised about consistency in attitudes towards judicial decisions. Rather than address the substance, you immediately resorted to sarcasm and name-calling.

This is precisely the problem with this bunch. Deflection has become a substitute for argument.

You accuse others of not thinking, yet your response contains no rebuttal, no facts, no counterargument—just labels.

A serious mind engages points. A partisan mind attacks personalities.

And that is why many people no longer take this obidients brand of politics seriously. It has become an echo chamber where disagreement is treated as heresy and insults are mistaken for intelligence.

If all you have in response to an argument is "data boy," then perhaps the data is winning.

Typical data boy,can't make a point without mentioning Obi

favor914:
When he becomes president in 2039 abi?

What u are wishing for, Tinubu & his hirelings have been enjoying same for the last 3 years that u have spent wailing in your dark world.

Person wey done pass u, done pass u.

if baba Tinubu don pass am make e show workings na

See our economy and security in comatose

Una go just Dey hype rubbish. No let me curse you o

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Typical data boy,can't make a point without mentioning Obi

Typical Obidient — once they can’t respond to the issue, everybody becomes “data boy.”

Mentioning Obi is legitimate because Obi is not a private citizen in this debate; he is the political product you people marketed as the alternative. If we are discussing 2027, opposition strategy, Labour Party collapse, coalition confusion, Obidient behaviour, or South-East political bargaining, Obi is central to the conversation.

You cannot build an entire movement around one man, shout his name for three years, insult everyone who questions him, then suddenly develop allergy when his record, choices and consequences are examined.

So no, mentioning Obi is not obsession. It is accountability.

What is childish is dodging the point and shouting “data boy” because facts have refused to obey your emotions.

AMINDA:
On what legal basis is INEC refraining from registering new political parties while the incumbent government continues to destroy all existing parties? The law is not what Tinubu wants it to be, no matter who stands to benefit from it or is affected by it. If Tinubu is not interested in elections, he should say so and declare himself president instead of resorting to such cowardly antics that has never been seen before in the history of our democratic dispensation. Why should Wike's Justice Lifu go against an existing appeal Court judgement to rule on a matter and why should he give a Kangaroo judgement that is clearly wrong if not just to "buy time" and diminish the momentum of opposition parties as they head to appeal? Antics like this cost the ruling party votes from undecided voters and even from genuine APC voters that previously believed Tinubu stood a chance at the ballot.

Oga, calm down and separate law from hysteria.

First, INEC is not refusing to register parties because “Tinubu said so.” Political party registration is governed by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, not by street emotion. Associations must apply, meet the requirements, and pass INEC’s verification process. In fact, INEC received 171 applications, shortlisted 14, and has already registered new parties ahead of 2027. So your claim that INEC is simply blocking new parties is factually weak.

Second, deregistration of political parties is not a Tinubu invention. The Constitution gives INEC power to deregister parties that fail to meet minimum electoral performance requirements, and the Supreme Court has already affirmed that power. You may disagree with how Justice Lifu applied the law, and that is why appeals exist, but shouting “Tinubu wants to declare himself president” is not legal argument. It is campaign poetry.

Third, if there is a subsisting Court of Appeal order, then the affected parties should challenge the ruling on appeal. That is the proper constitutional route. But you cannot jump from “I disagree with a Federal High Court ruling” to “Tinubu is destroying democracy.” That is not analysis; that is panic dressed as activism.

The real problem with the opposition is not INEC or Justice Lifu. It is fragmentation, poor organisation, weak structure, ego-driven coalitions and reliance on outrage instead of strategy.

You people want to lose in court, lose structure, lose coalition discipline, then blame Tinubu for your political confusion.

Democracy is not strengthened by empty alarmism. Bring law, facts and strategy — not noise.

HacheNoire:
Why is Peter always trying hard to tarnish the image of our reputable judges!

Peter is educated and should know how to address matters when he does not welcome a judgement. It’s not a hidden secret.

NDC even has higher chances of getting registered in 2031 because it’s already glaring they won’t meet up with the criteria.

Helinues, the Nigerian Judiciary is not independent and reputable. They are Wike's and the faaaaakkkkeee ceeerrrrttifficate holllldeer's Judiciary

PulaPower:
Nah people carry those party go court. Mostly the ones that felt cheated on..

i just stumbled on a recent publication where the attorney general went to court asking it to deregister these parties .so government hand dey am
if na aggrieved members as you suggested it is a bit understandable even though the courts should consider some technical and necessity issues before reaching a conclusion.
if a government can leave their primary duty of providing security and be reminding inec of their duties then they should also be responsible for maintaining peace within the political parties and not just when it works for their favour.
the apc government is a very irresponsible one not fit for an inclusive developing society that is what Peter Obi is trying to point out.

CharlesCNG:
Typical Obidient — once they can’t respond to the issue, everybody becomes “data boy.”

Mentioning Obi is legitimate because Obi is not a private citizen in this debate; he is the political product you people marketed as the alternative. If we are discussing 2027, opposition strategy, Labour Party collapse, coalition confusion, Obidient behaviour, or South-East political bargaining, Obi is central to the conversation.

You cannot build an entire movement around one man, shout his name for three years, insult everyone who questions him, then suddenly develop allergy when his record, choices and consequences are examined.

So no, mentioning Obi is not obsession. It is accountability.

What is childish is dodging the point and shouting “data boy” because facts have refused to obey your emotions.

Typical Data Boy,can't make a comment without Obi

Everyone should know Wike is a bencher, lawyers in the house should understand why the pockets the judiciary