“Courts Should Stay Away from Party Affairs or They’ll Become Politicians” — PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the judiciary to avoid interfering in its internal matters, warning that such involvement risks politicizing the courts.

National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong made the statement on Friday during an interview with Arise Television. He expressed concern over the growing perception that courts are increasingly acting like political actors.

Ememobong acknowledged a recent court ruling, describing it as a product of judicial discretion, but questioned its alignment with the party’s constitution. He emphasized respect for the judiciary while urging restraint: “The court should stay away from the internal affairs of the party so that they don’t become politicians. When perception and reality converge to the point where people lose faith in a process, something is wrong,” he said.

He also raised concerns about judicial interactions with the executive, citing a public event in which the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court reportedly met with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to request land and housing for judges. Ememobong noted that while he was not making accusations, the optics could affect public confidence in the judiciary: “It is a fundamental principle in law that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.”

The PDP’s comments highlight ongoing tensions between political parties and the judiciary over perceived impartiality in legal interventions.