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Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has advised that the ruling ordering the deregistration of some political parties in Nigeria be overturned.
The NDC presidential candidate has denounced on the altar of politics the growing damage to the nation’s sacred institutions, reiterating the need for Nigeria to restore the dignity, independence and integrity of the judiciary.
Obi said this in his reaction to the Court’s strike-off order, posted on his X handle on Monday.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
The other parties listed in the lawsuit and affected by the court’s cancellation order are Accord, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labor Party (ZLP).
According to Obi, a nation is resurrected when institutions are stronger and not when they are politicised.
“When the controversy surrounding the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, developed, I expressed a concern to a friend: the greatest damage may not be immediate, but the message it sends to the world about the sanctity and independence of our institutions should not be overlooked.
“Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, political risks and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a justice system perceived as vulnerable to political pressure.
“Today many Nigerians have lost faith in the systems that are supposed to protect them, businesses are increasingly demanding that their contracts be regulated by foreign jurisdictions because they have more trust in those institutions than in ours,” he said.
He explained that the nation must never sacrifice its sacred institutions on the altar of politics, stating that nations arise when institutions are stronger than individuals.
He argued that the Federal High Court ruling ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties was just one of those activities which further reduced the common man’s confidence in the nation’s legal systems.
He advised that the sentence should be quashed and promised that Nigeria will restore the dignity, independence and integrity of the judiciary
“The common man must have a voice, the business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation, justice must be impartial, accessible and respected by all.
“To our judges, legal luminaries, lawyers and senior advocates, this is your moment. Stand up, defend the rule of law, take back your country,” he added.
