'Yemi

This latest assault on our democracy must not be allowed to stand. The court-ordered deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties is nothing short of a brazen attempt to strangle Opposition and hand Nigeria over to a one-party state by judicial fiat. I have fought for democracy my entire adult life. I stood on the streets for #BringBackOurGirls, I have spoken truth to power under different administrations, and I entered partisan politics because I believe in a Nigeria where citizens have real choices and not a predetermined outcome. Today, I condemn in the strongest possible terms the Federal High Court judgment that seeks to deregister ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party.   Section 225A of the Constitution was never intended to be a weapon for eliminating opposition voices. The judiciary is once again showing that it is willing tool for perpetuating injustice instead of enforcing justice.   To INEC and the forces behind this judgment, Nigerians have endured too much economic hardship, insecurity, and broken promises to now accept the death of democracy. This democracy we now enjoy was made possible by the sacrifices of a lot of Nigerians, some of whom paid the ultimate price. They gave their lives for Nigeria to be a democratic nation.   To my fellow citizens, this is not a time to be silent. This is not about ADC or any single party. This is about whether Nigeria will remain a democracy or slide into authoritarian rule where only one voice is permitted. Raise your voices. Demand that INEC respects the will of the people and that the judiciary stops being used as a tool for political elimination.   Democracy is not a gift from those in power; it is a right we must defend every single day. I stand with every Nigerian who believes in choice, in competition of ideas, and in a future where no one can simply deregister the opposition out of existence. Aisha Yesufu