Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has urged Nigerian politicians to stop politicising judicial decisions, warning that such actions could undermine the country’s democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday, the governor reacted to the recent court judgment involving the proposed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, had set aside its earlier ruling that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
Commenting on the development, Sani said politicians often praise the judiciary when court rulings favour them but are quick to condemn it when judgments go against their interests.
“When it favours politicians, they feel the judiciary is the best place to go. When it goes against them, they feel the judiciary is the worst place to go,” he said.
The governor stressed that constant attacks on the judiciary for political reasons are unhealthy for Nigeria’s democracy, noting that several political figures who now criticise the courts have previously benefited from judicial interventions.
Referring to Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Sani recalled that the former Anambra State governor secured his mandate through a landmark court judgment.
“For some of us who believe in democracy and the rule of law, we have to be very careful. Politicising every issue is not healthy for us because many actors involved in this NDC issue have been beneficiaries of the judiciary.
“Maybe you have to cast your mind back that even the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was also someone who benefited from a very strong judicial pronouncement when he was governor of Anambra State,” Sani added.
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