Amaechi compares ADC court battle to Abiola’s June 12 ordeal

Rotimi Amaechi, vice-presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), drew parallels between the recent Federal High Court ruling voiding his party's presidential candidacy and the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was won by the late MKO Abiola. Amaechi cautioned that judicial interventions could impede opposition parties' progress and urged Nigeria to prevent a repeat of events following the 1993 election annulment.

The June 12 election, highly regarded as one of Nigeria's fairest polls, was annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida's military government, leading to widespread protests and a pro-democracy movement. Abiola subsequently declared himself president and was detained by General Sani Abacha's regime, eventually dying in detention in 1998.

Amaechi, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, expressed concern that judicial actions could frustrate opposition parties whenever they make political gains. He insisted that court decisions must be impartial, urging opposition parties to continue their campaign activities and confident of overturning the decision through an appeal to the Court of Appeal.