BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at the judiciary in the country, saying it is helping to destroy democracy.
The former Governor of Anambra State, said that it was time for every Nigerian to sit down and ask ourselves, where Nigeria is going, stressing that Nigerians need to reverse the ugly trend as the abuse being allowed will take its revenge on the nation and its citizens.
Obi, who stated this in Bauchi on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in a goodwill message he delivered at the 2026 edition of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) Foundation Annual Democracy Dialogue with the theme: ‘Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and Judiciary Save African Democracy?’, said he never met the Justices of the Supreme Court that wrote the judgement that made him governor of Anambra State.
Obi said that in the present judicial system, it is difficult to get fair trial not to talk of justice without having an appreciable knowledge of the presiding or trial judge of the court.
He explained that as somebody who benefited from Nigerian democracy and judiciary, he was just talking to one of the former Justices of the Supreme Court, whom he never met, but they wrote the judgment that made him Governor.
In his words; “Where will you get that type of judgment in Nigeria today? It is impossible. I never met her. I met him two years after being Governor, and he tapped me and said, I am just such a social person. But he wrote my judgment. I was in court for three years, challenging my election.
“Five Justices that I never met, one day gave judgment in my favour. It cannot happen in Nigeria today. I went to Court of Appeal, five judges I never met, gave judgment in my favour. So, if you look at that and look at what is happening today in Nigeria, where Professors are now aiding illiterates to rig election, where our lawmakers have removed forgery as an offense in electoral matter, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), defending forgery. Our religious leaders are now praying for criminal politicians for blessing.
“We have a crisis, and above all, our judges are now singing on your mandate will stand. So, it is a big problem, and all of us, unexamined life is not worth living,” he stated.
In her remarks, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, called for deeper collaboration between the judiciary and political parties to strengthen democratic governance across Africa.
Dongban-Mensem, who was represented by Justice Monsurat Bolaji Yusuf of the Jos Division of the Court of Appeal, emphasized that the evolving political, technological, and socioeconomic landscape makes engagement between the courts and political institutions imperative.
According to her; “The strength of democratic governance is anchored in strong institutions. This demands adherence to constitutionalism, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to justice, accountability, and peaceful resolution of disputes.”
She said that political parties are the primary vehicles for democratic participation and leadership recruitment, while the judiciary is the impartial guardian of constitutional order.
Despite their distinct mandates, Justice Dongban-Mensem noted that both entities share the responsibility of preserving democratic legitimacy and public trust.
The President of the Court of Appeal commended former President Jonathan for creating the platform and noted that the Foundation continues to make vital contributions to Africa’s stability by promoting peaceful transitions and resilient institutions.
Speaking in turn, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, said democracy is about the rule of law, and built on three pillars.
According to Diri; “The pillars of justice, equity, and fairness. And I believe that we have missed the road of democracy in Nigeria long ago. Because there is no justice where oil in Oloybri that gave this country an oil commercial producing country status.
“Oloybri today is a shadow of itself. And all of the money come to Abuja at the end of the month to come and share oil money. I don’t think that that’s what democracy is all about.
“I don’t believe that the local government that brings so much money to Nigeria, Southern Ijaw Local Government, where I invited former President Obasanjo, who graciously came. For 60 years, they have no access to the headquarters of that local government. It is only recently that they have concluded a 630 meters long bridge to the headquarters of that local government.
“And so to my mind, there is total injustice where I have just eight local government areas. Some other states have 40 local government areas and above. And the resources from my State is used to share to those local government areas. And I have only eight. There is injustice.
“And whoever that become President, the injustice continues. The unfairness continues. Resources are expropriated. Today there is gold in Zamfara and other places. And what do we experience? Insecurity. Most of the insecurity is also traced to the discovery of gold in that far North.
“And so, my dear leader, my conclusion is that for democracy to thrive in Nigeria, there must be true federalism. I delivered a lecture in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, about a year ago on true federalism. And until Nigeria begins to practice federalism, we will have some pseudo-democratic, pseudo-autocratic, and sometimes even a tyrannical government in this country.
“However, I will still congratulate my elder brother, former President, who has made this possible. And we must continue to jaw-jaw so that at the end of the day the country will be better for us all,” he stated.
