The biggest threat to Nigerian democracy, according to Peter Obi, is the judiciary, not INEC.
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The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate for 2023, Peter Obi, has stated that the judiciary, not the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is the biggest danger to Nigerian democracy.
Obi gave this speech as the keynote speaker during the fifth memorial service for the late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu.
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“The judiciary today, despite having a few outstanding judges, is undeniably in decline,” said the former Anambra governor. “This decline poses a significant threat to the future of Nigeria. Justice is increasingly commodified and delivered in favor of the highest bidder.”
Obi questioned the widespread belief that Nigeria’s democratic progress is being impeded by INEC. “Whenever democracy is discussed, fingers point to INEC as the problem. But INEC is not the problem; instead, the judiciary is. The judiciary is the biggest threat to Nigeria. If our judiciary is effective, our businesses will thrive,” he said.
He went into further detail on the fallout from a compromised judiciary, emphasizing that the weakest people of society are the ones who suffer the most from a breakdown in the rule of law.“The integrity of our institutions, the protection of human rights, and the stability of our nation are all jeopardized when the rule of law is compromised,” Obi stated
Obi emphasized the critical need to protect the judiciary’s independence and promote values such as character, competence, capability, compassion, and integrity among jurists and political leaders. “By doing so, we can ensure justice and fairness prevail as we endeavor to build a better Nigeria for all,” he stated.
He lamented the situation of the country at the moment, stating, “Nigeria has become a country where anything goes. There is no rule of law, there is almost no judiciary. Everybody could be pushed down because there is no rule of law. Because the judiciary has become commercialized and depends on how much one pays, it has become difficult to get true justice in the judiciary.”
In his closing remarks, Obi emphasized the wider socioeconomic ramifications of a dysfunctional judiciary.“At any point in time where the judiciary is not working, society suffers,” he warned.
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