A group of protesters gathered in large numbers at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, voicing anger over what they believe is a plan to deregister several opposition political parties.

The protesters warned President Bola Tinubu not to interfere with the independence of both the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Operating under the name Concerned Northern Nigeria Stakeholders, the group marched to the court entrance in the Wuse area. They sang solidarity songs and carried placards with messages such as “No Opposition, No Election”, “Tinubu, Let Our Democracy Breathe”, and “AGF Must Be Neutral”.

Security was tight at the scene, with armed personnel, including operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), stationed at the entrance. They prevented the protesters from entering the court premises.

The group’s leader, Banki Sharrif, spoke to journalists during the protest, raising concerns over what he described as growing threats to democratic institutions. He accused the federal government of attempting to bypass due legal process.

Addressing the presidency, Sharrif said, “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately cease all forms of interference, overt or covert, with the judiciary. Courts must never be reduced to instruments of political engineering. The moment justice is manipulated, the nation itself is placed on trial.”

He also argued that any attempt to weaken opposition parties reflects a lack of confidence on the part of the government.

“A government that seeks to weaken opposition betrays a lack of confidence in its own legitimacy. Democracy thrives on competition. Suppressing it is not strength; it is fear,” he added.

The group stressed that democracy cannot function properly without a strong opposition, stating that “elections without credible opposition are nothing more than staged exercises. Democracy demands fairness, openness, and equal opportunity for all political actors.”

Sharrif further criticised the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, insisting that the office must remain neutral and not be used for political purposes.