The Leader of Njiko Igbo Forum, Rev. Dr. Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, has warned that Nigeria may not successfully conduct the 2027 general election if Peter Obi is prevented from appearing on the presidential ballot.

The remark followed Friday’s Federal High Court ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

DAILY POST reported that Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling in Lokoja, held that the court’s earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC.

The judge ruled that the PMP was not joined as a party in the original suit despite its claim over the disputed logo.

Speaking with DAILY POST, Obioha alleged that public confidence in the judiciary had declined due to what he described as inconsistent decisions and accused the current administration of weakening the institution.

He said: “The citizens of this country, the genuine citizens of this country, who are looking up to a democracy that will have aimed to be sustained and maintained are not looking at the courts at all.

“Now we have no regard for the judiciary in Nigeria. The judiciary in Nigeria is full of inconsistencies, adding to the leadership of this country, the APC government of this country, that influenced what they have done since they came into power, particularly since Tinubu came into power.

“He has weakened the judiciary, has messed them up.

“As far as political arrangements are concerned, or pronouncement by the courts, we don’t trust them any longer, because they are one of the arms of government that are weak, that should be strengthened.

“If Peter Obi is frustrated and is not on the ballot, there will be no election in 2027. That’s not a threat. It is going to work out that way. I’m trying to… If you like, you can call it prophecy. I’m a reverend. Call it anything, but I’m just warning Nigerians.

“If Peter Obi, with all the struggles and on the level he’s now, is  frustrated not to be on the ballot, there will be no election in 2027.

“And on 29th May next year, Tinubu will not be the president because we are tired of the system. We are tired.

“We are strangulated, and the rest will be story about this country called Nigeria.”

The Transmission Commission of Nigeria has announced electricity disruption in parts of Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Yobe States, as well as Gazaoua in the Niger Republic.

The spokesperson of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. 

The outage is due to planned maintenance at Kumbotos’ 330 kilovolt transmission substation on Sunday. 

Consequently, electricity customers served by Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Yola Electricity Distribution Company will experience power disruption. 

“The scheduled maintenance is to enable the TCN contractor to continue the ongoing upgrade of 330kV bus II jumpers and replace the existing 350mm² conductors with 800mm² conductors in order to strengthen the transmission network and improve power reliability.

“As a result, Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and some part of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) and Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) will be unable to off-take power for distribution to their customers in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States, as well as Azare in Bauchi State, Nguru in Yobe State, and also Gazaoua in the Niger Republic,” TCN stated.