Oseni Rufai Accuses Plot to Exclude Obi and Atiku from 2027 Ballot Amid Deregistration Concerns

Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni has claimed that there may be efforts to keep key opposition figures, including Mr Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, off the ballot for the 2027 general elections.

Oseni’s comments came after a Federal High Court judgment ordered the deregistration of several political parties.

Daily Post reported that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action People’s Party (APP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance Party (AAP) over alleged constitutional breaches.

The ruling followed a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which argued that the parties had failed to meet constitutional and statutory electoral performance requirements necessary for continued recognition as political parties.

Justice Lifu further barred INEC from recognising the affected parties, accepting their nominations or allowing them to participate in activities related to the 2027 general elections.

If upheld, the decision could impact the political ambitions of several politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is associated with the ADC, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re‑election on the Accord Party platform.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Oseni described the court ruling as a “test” of public reaction, warning that more actions could follow ahead of the next general election.

He said opposition parties such as the ADC and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) should be cautious, claiming that attempts could be made to stop major figures from participating in the election.

Oseni argued that the judgment was part of a broader process aimed at shaping the political landscape ahead of 2027.

He maintained that the ruling came despite some of the affected parties having recorded electoral victories in recent elections.

Oseni warned Nigerians to remain vigilant to safeguard the country’s democracy, stressing the need for judicial reforms alongside efforts to tackle insecurity.

Oseni said: “NDC, ADC should be careful because there will be an attempt, and this is me predicting now, to ensure that Obi, Atiku and other big contenders are not on the ballot.”

“This that you saw yesterday is just a test. This is not the real place where the whole thing is going. This is me predicting now.”

“You know before you have a show you test the microphone. They want to see the reactions of Nigerians. More is still coming.”

“You can see how they carry a judgement when ADC won two House of Representatives seats in Kogi, one Kogi House of Assembly seat, APP one chairmanship seat in Jigawa, Zenith Labour party won several seats in Abia, but they still went ahead and issued judgement for deregistration after the Court of Appeal, a higher court, said it should stay on that.”

“If we want to deal with this judicial rascality, can I tell you something? The judge that gave this judgment, nothing will happen to him. Nothing on this earth. They are just coming.”

“And who is leading this group? Gbajabiamila. Have you forgotten what Gbajabiamila said on Hon Ajibade’s birthday? So they are just coming. This one is just a test. The next one they will do is the NDC.”

“With the way they’re going, if Nigerians don’t shine their eyes when they will finally have this election, you will not have the major contenders in the ballot. This thing they have just done is to test reactions from Nigerians.”

“I saw this thing coming. You know we are going into an election in which Atiku Abubakar is the only major candidate from the North. It’s not like the last one you have Kwankwaso that can split the Kano votes. And you have Peter Obi and general consensus that a lot of people are in abject penury, insecurity is raging hard.”

“This is the beginning of many things. They are just testing the microphone. It’s engineered. More is coming. Nigerians, it is you that will save your democracy. Judicial reforms have become so important as insecurity in Nigeria.”