Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has kicked against the deregistration of some political parties by a Federal High Court.
He described the development as a challenge to public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic and judicial institutions.
Obi, in a statement on his X handle, warned against what he called the growing politicisation of institutions that are supposed to be independent and insulated from political influence.
Reacting to the court ruling deregistering some political parties including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Obi said nations thrive when institutions are stronger than individuals and politics.
He said the judgment of the Federal High Court ordering the de-registration of the ADC and other political parties would further undermine the confidence of the public in the country’s legal system and called for a reversal.
“We can never put our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. “Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals,” he said.
He recalled raising concerns during the controversy that followed the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.
And the worst damage such actions did was often the impression they created of the sanctity and independence of national institutions, he said.
His case is that strong economies are built on trust. Investors can cope with security, policy and market risks, but they are often put off by uncertainty in the rule of law and perceptions of judicial intervention.
“Today, many Nigerians do not have confidence in the systems that are supposed to protect them, because increasingly, businesses insist that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have more confidence in those institutions than in our own.”
He vowed to dedicate himself to restoring the dignity, independence and integrity of the judiciary, stressing that justice should be impartial, accessible and respected by all citizens.
He also appealed to the judges, senior advocates, lawyers and other legal professionals to defend the rule of law and strengthen the democratic institutions in the country.
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