The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, on Tuesday declared that the failed attempt to deregister the party was ‘a direct assault on multiparty democracy’ after the Court of Appeal overturned a Federal High Court judgment that threatened the party’s continued existence. It also reinforces judicial protection for Nigeria’s multiparty system and the constitutional rights of political parties. “The attempt to deregister the ADC was a direct assault on multiparty democracy and an unfortunate effort to undermine the constitutional right of Nigerians to freely associate and participate in the political process,” Mark declared. He argued that the implications of the judgment extended far beyond the fortunes of the ADC, saying it had strengthened confidence in the courts as protectors of constitutional freedoms and political pluralism. According to Mark, “The verdict is a reassuring reminder that our judiciary can still rise above pressure and protect democracy, political pluralism and the constitutional rights of citizens and political parties.”