A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has pointed a finger to Nigeria’s judiciary as the main threat to the democratic principles of Nigeria. The former vice president has always disdained the third arm of the government though with evidence to substantiate his claim.
He said that the judiciary has joined in destruction of political parties and some individuals are arm twisting the judiciary for their own benefit.
The PDP is embroiled in internal crisis with a number of party’s chieftain calling for replacement of Umar Damagum, the acting chairman along with other members of the National Working Committee of the party.
“That must change. The same judiciary that affirmed the primacy of parties in choosing their candidates and leaders now sanctions and indeed promotes the destruction of parties by a few, and in some cases, a single individual with a personal agenda.”
The former vice president also alleged that the judiciary changes the will of the voters. Atiku dragged the All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu to court after the controversial 2023 general elections.
*The judiciary also seems to have replaced the voters in choosing our leaders. The involvement of the judiciary in electoral disputes was intended to affirm the choice of voters.
“But the judiciary, even at the highest levels, twists and contorts to find technicalities to deny voters their choice rather than affirming the voters’ choices.”
He explained that if the democracy of the country dies, the judiciary and its leadership would be affected as well.
“I know enough of history to understand that when democracy dies, the judiciary and its leadership do not necessarily survive intact.
“The judiciary survived the implosion or death of our First Republic democracy mainly due to the presence of strong independent justices. It wasn’t for want of trying.
However, as the corruption of every facet of our society deepened, the judiciary soon followed. And it is, perhaps, the most dangerous because there is nowhere else for the aggrieved to turn to,” he said.
He argued that there was no one to check the excesses of the other branches of government.
“If the rot in our judiciary persists without severe consequence for the perpetrators, our parties and our democracy are unlikely to survive.”
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