Peter Obi: ‘Judiciary, Not INEC, the Achilles Heel of Nigeria’s Democracy’

In a thought-provoking address at the fifth memorial of late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu, Peter Obi, the erstwhile presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, cast a spotlight on what he perceives as the paramount obstacle to Nigeria’s democracy: the judiciary.

Obi minced no words as he declared that the judiciary, not the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), poses the gravest threat to the nation’s democratic fabric. He lamented the erosion of justice in Nigeria, asserting that it has become a commodity accessible only to the highest bidder.

“While the judiciary, today, still boasts of a few outstanding judges, there is an undeniable decline in our judicial system,” he remarked, underscoring the systemic challenges plaguing the dispensation of justice.

The former Anambra governor emphasized that the rule of law is the bedrock of any thriving society and urged for its preservation at all costs. He called for urgent reforms to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and instill values of integrity and competence among jurists and political leaders alike.

Obi’s sentiments echoed the widespread concern over the state of Nigeria’s judiciary, which many believe has been compromised by corruption and undue influence. He warned that the erosion of trust in the judiciary undermines the very foundation of democracy and threatens the stability of the nation.

In the aftermath of the fiercely contested 2023 presidential election, which saw Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) emerge victorious, Obi and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mounted legal challenges, contesting the outcome all the way to the Supreme Court.

However, on October 26, 2023, the apex court upheld Tinubu’s victory, dismissing the appeals of Abubakar and Obi, and affirming him as president. This verdict, though decisive, has since fueled debates on the efficacy and impartiality of Nigeria’s judicial system.