Nigerian journalist and broadcaster, Rufai Oseni, has alleged that the legal challenge against the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was initiated just two days after former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, officially joined the party, describing the development as part of a broader effort to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on The Morning Show on ARISE Television on Monday, Oseni claimed that Obi joined the NDC on May 3, while the suit seeking to nullify the party’s registration was filed on May 5 by what he described as a “faceless group.”
According to him, the timing of the lawsuit raises serious concerns and mirrors what he described as a recurring pattern involving opposition political parties.
“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,” Oseni said.
The veteran broadcaster questioned the sequence of events leading to the lawsuit, arguing that the court action closely followed Obi’s defection to the party.
“Have you scrutinised the judgment? Have you seen the Certified True Copy? 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,” he stated.
Oseni alleged that the circumstances surrounding the case resembled previous legal disputes involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that the pattern suggested a coordinated attempt to frustrate opposition parties.
“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 faceless group, just like the one with the ADC—the same pattern,” he said.
Referring to an earlier ruling involving Justice Peter Lifu, Oseni noted that the judge had only received what he described as a verbal reprimand from the Court of Appeal.
“Like I predicted, since then nothing has happened to Justice Lifu. The only thing he got was a reprimand by the Court of Appeal, a 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. We’ve all seen the judgment. 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,” he added.
Oseni also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue the necessary code required by the NDC to upload its documents, warning that delays could fuel perceptions of bias and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
“I would like to advise INEC, please give them the issuance code. It’s not a big deal. Let parties upload, because everything looks 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,” he said.
He warned that any actions perceived as restricting opposition participation could affect the credibility of the 2027 elections.
“In case your advisers are not advising you well, you’re already tainting the credibility of the election by the time the elections 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,” Oseni stated.
He concluded by dismissing suggestions that the opposition’s challenges were solely the result of internal disputes, maintaining that the developments supported his earlier concerns about efforts to weaken opposition parties ahead of the next general election.