Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the judiciary as the greatest threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Speaking on Monday in Abuja as a panelist at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, Atiku expressed concerns over judicial interference in political processes.
The event was organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), and the National Peace Committee (NPC).
As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Atiku participated in discussions on a paper titled “Party Politics and Political Integrity: The Role of Political Parties and Opposition in Democracy,” presented by Professor Bayo Olukoshi.
He lamented that reforms aimed at curbing judicial excesses have been ineffective.
“That must change. The same judiciary that once upheld the authority of political parties in selecting their candidates and leaders is now instrumental in dismantling those parties, often at the behest of a single individual with a personal agenda,” Atiku stated.
He accused the judiciary of overriding the will of voters, asserting that instead of affirming electoral choices, courts now use legal technicalities to subvert them.
“The judiciary was meant to validate the choices of voters in electoral disputes, but today, even at the highest levels, it manipulates legal loopholes to deny voters their preferences rather than affirm them,” he said.
Reflecting on history, Atiku warned that the judiciary itself is not immune to the consequences of democratic collapse.
“When democracy fails, the judiciary and its leadership do not necessarily remain intact. During the collapse of Nigeria’s First Republic, the judiciary survived largely due to the presence of strong and independent justices. However, as corruption infiltrated every sector of society, the judiciary was not spared. This makes it especially dangerous because it leaves no recourse for the aggrieved.”
He further argued that there is currently no effective mechanism to hold the judiciary accountable, leaving the excesses of other government branches unchecked.
“If the decay in our judiciary continues without serious repercussions for those responsible, both our political parties and our democracy may not survive.”
According to him, Nigeria’s democratic system is at a critical juncture.
“In simple terms, it risks complete erosion. This is not the doing of a single individual or administration. Many of us have long warned that if we failed to remain vigilant and take corrective measures, our democracy would reach this perilous state.”
Atiku concluded by asserting that no other leader has been as committed to the cause of democracy as he has.
