NEWS
Rufai Oseni Alleges NDC Deregistration Case Was Orchestrated After Peter Obi Joined Party, Warns of Plot to Weaken Opposition
Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, has alleged that the legal challenge seeking the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was deliberately orchestrated as part of a wider effort to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during The Morning Show on Arise Television on Monday, Oseni questioned the timing of the lawsuit challenging the registration of the NDC, arguing that it came just two days after former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, officially joined the party.
According to the broadcaster, Obi became a member of the NDC on May 3, 2026, while the suit seeking to nullify the party’s registration was filed on May 5 by what he described as a “faceless group.”
Oseni maintained that the sequence of events raised serious concerns and mirrored what he claimed had become a recurring pattern of legal actions targeted at opposition political parties.
He argued that individuals and groups now challenging the NDC’s registration had not raised similar objections before the party began attracting prominent opposition figures.
The veteran broadcaster also referenced the court proceedings involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), noting that the judgment in that matter had generated widespread criticism. He insisted that the latest legal challenge against the NDC followed the same pattern.
Oseni further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue the necessary code required for the NDC to upload its candidates and relevant documents onto the commission’s nomination portal.
He warned that any action perceived as obstructing opposition parties from participating freely in the electoral process could damage public confidence in the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Although he acknowledged that he had no evidence to substantiate his claims, Oseni insisted that the timing of the lawsuit strongly suggested a coordinated effort against the opposition.
“Let me start with NDC registration. I’m not surprised. I think I predicted it here. I said it. More will happen.
“You know why? There’s a grand attempt to ensure that opposition is weakened before the election, write it down. Grand attempt.
“Have you scrutinised the judgement? Have you seen the CTC?
“Peter Obi went to the NDC on the 3rd of May, that case was filed on the 5th of May in court. A lot of people have not even scrutinised that part.
“I said Peter Obi officially went to the NDC on the 3rd of May. The case was filed on the 5th of May by yet again another, you know, faceless group, and all of that, just like the one with the ADC, the same pattern.
“Like I predicted, since then nothing has happened to Justice Lifu. The only thing he got was a reprimand by the Court of Appeal, verbal reprimand
“This too will go like that, so it’s a direct orchestration. I think the opposition party should not sleep, they’re going to have more.
“I mean, we’ve all seen the judgement. I don’t want to go into legalism, it falls flat on its face again. The NDC has said they’re going to get a stay of execution. Let’s see
“I would like to advise INEC, please give them the issuance code. It’s not a big deal. Let parties be able to upload, because everything is looking like a grand conspiracy when you look at this election cycle, and I don’t know why some people are jittery. If you are confident, let opposition into the race. Don’t hold them back. Don’t do anything
“In case your advisers are not advising you people well, you’re already tainting the credibility of the election by the time the elections will come. Anything that happens, these are part of the stories we are going to tell.
‘“So, if you feel you can win, win freely, nobody’s holding you from winning, but all of this shenanigan, all of this kangaroo manipulation, and all of that, it’s not fair.
“It goes back to our initial premise that a lot of people try defending “Oh, they are not attacking the opposition, they themselves have their own internal squabble.”