Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic.
Atiku, who is also the Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, stressed that the disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings playing out in the nation’s courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny.
While welcoming the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu that ordered the deregistration of the ADC, and four other political parties, stressed that if Nigeria’s democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice.
Atiku said; “The disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings playing out in our courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny.
“I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgment seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties,” he stated.
Atiku, however, noted that it was particularly significant that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), itself initiated the application for the stay.
According to Atiku: “As the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, rightly observed, the judiciary itself is now on trial”.
The former Vice President stressed that the judiciary still has an opportunity to redeem itself by standing firmly on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people.
