Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the buildup to the 2027 general elections, has warned the judiciary against inflicting injury of democracy in the country. He admonished that those entrusted with dispensing justice will be demanded accountability if democracy suffers further injury in Nigeria.

The former Vice President acknowledged the order of the Court of Appeal on stay of execution on the judgement of the Federal High Court directing the INEC to deregister ADC and four other parties.

Atiku commended the resolve of the INEC to appeal the judgement and applied for stay of execution.

He noted that politically charged rulings playing out in the courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny.

Atiku in a statement declared: "I welcome the Court of Appeal's decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgment seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties. It is particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay.

"The disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings playing out in our courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny. As ADC National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, rightly observed, the judiciary itself is now on trial.

"Any attempt to undermine Nigeria's hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic. If our democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice. The judiciary still has an opportunity to redeem itself by standing firmly on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people. -AA"