Nigeria's Bode George calls court ruling an assault on democracy

Former Peoples Democratic Party deputy chairman Chief Bode George condemned a recent Court of Appeal judgment in Abuja that upheld an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising state congresses convened by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He said the decision represents a "assault on constitutional democracy" and a deliberate attempt to weaponise state institutions against opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

George criticised the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as ADC chairman, arguing that party leadership must be earned through democratic process, not executive fiat, recalling the Supreme Court precedents that internal party affairs are generally non‑justiciable. He warned that if INEC and the courts begin to determine party leadership, the foundation of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy will be jeopardised.