Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the judiciary as the greatest threat to Nigeria’s democracy, calling for urgent reforms to address what he termed “judicial recklessness.”
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, Atiku criticised the judiciary’s role in electoral and political party disputes.
The event was organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), and the National Peace Committee (NPC).
Atiku participated in a panel discussion on a paper titled “Party Politics and Political Integrity: The Role of Political Parties and Opposition in Democracy” presented by Prof. Bayo Olukoshi.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the judiciary’s failure to uphold reforms aimed at curbing judicial misconduct.
“That must change,” he said. “The same judiciary that affirmed the primacy of political parties in choosing their candidates and leaders now sanctions and promotes the destruction of parties by a few individuals, often with personal agendas.”
Atiku further accused the judiciary of overstepping its bounds by undermining the will of voters.
“The judiciary now appears to have replaced voters in choosing our leaders. Its involvement in electoral disputes, originally intended to affirm voters’ choices, now frequently results in technicalities that deny the electorate their decision,” he stated.
The former vice president also warned of the consequences for democracy and the judiciary if these issues remain unaddressed.
“I know enough history to understand that when democracy dies, the judiciary and its leadership do not necessarily survive intact,” he concluded.
Atiku’s remarks have added to ongoing debates about the role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democratic processes and the need for systemic reforms.
