The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has voiced apprehensions regarding the state of Nigeria’s judiciary, branding it as the foremost menace to the nation’s democracy.
He conveyed these concerns during a keynote speech at the fifth memorial of the late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at the Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu.
Obi lamented the prevalent issue of justice being “sold to the highest bidder” within Nigeria’s judicial framework, characterizing it as a substantial regression that poses a grave threat to the nation’s future.
He underscored that the judiciary, rather than the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represents the primary obstacle to Nigeria’s democratic advancement.
Asserting the indispensability of a functional judiciary for business prosperity and societal well-being, Obi emphasized the pivotal role of upholding the rule of law to safeguard the vulnerable and preserve institutional integrity.
In advocating for a revitalized judicial system, Obi stressed the importance of safeguarding its independence and fostering values such as character, competence, capability, compassion, and integrity among jurists and political leaders.
He emphasized that justice and fairness must prevail to construct a better Nigeria for all citizens.
Reflecting on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, where he secured the third position behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obi reiterated his apprehensions regarding the judiciary.
Despite contesting Tinubu’s victory alongside Abubakar up to the Supreme Court, their appeals were dismissed, confirming Tinubu as the president.
