Nigeria’s Democracy at Risk After Supreme Court Ruling

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that affirms the President’s authority to suspend elected governors and state assemblies during a state of emergency. In a statement, the party warned that the judgment threatens Nigeria’s federalism and democratic order, concentrating excessive power in the Presidency and effectively creating a “constitutional tyrant.” While the decision may appear academic at first glance, the ADC argues that its implications are far‑reaching and potentially dangerous.

The Court held that once a state of emergency is declared, the President may determine the measures needed to restore peace and security, including “extraordinary measures.” The ADC cautions that such broad discretion could be easily abused, allowing the President or his agents to fabricate a security situation in any state and suspend the governor and state assembly. This, the party says, contradicts the constitutional principle that no arm or tier of government is superior to another, and it places state governments firmly under presidential control.

The ADC also questions the safeguards cited by the Supreme Court—proportionality, legislative oversight, and judicial review—to prevent abuse of presidential powers. It argues that a President determined to retain power is unlikely to observe proportionality, that the current administration has shown intolerance toward opposition parties, and that the National Assembly has been weakened, rendering legislative oversight implausible. Moreover, the party claims that judicial review has been compromised by the ruling itself.

According to the ADC, Nigeria is sliding toward “constitutional tyranny,” a form of autocracy achieved through legal mechanisms rather than military coups. The party warns that this erosion of democratic norms can occur gradually, as rulers undermine institutions. Recent developments, it says, demonstrate that neither the legislature nor the judiciary can be relied upon to halt Nigeria’s democratic decline. The ADC’s statement underscores the need for vigilance in protecting the country’s democratic institutions and preventing the erosion of federalism.