Court ruling on ADC vindicates Tinubu over judiciary, one-party claims — Matawalle

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

The Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, on Friday said the Federal High Court judgment affirming the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vindicated President Bola Tinubu against allegations of interfering with the judiciary or pursuing a one-party state.

Matawalle said the court’s dismissal of a suit challenging the leadership of the ADC under former Senate President David Mark demonstrated the President’s commitment to judicial independence and the rule of law, contrary to claims by opposition politicians.

In a statement, the minister said critics had repeatedly accused Tinubu of influencing judicial decisions and using state institutions to weaken opposition parties, but the outcome of the ADC leadership case had proved such allegations unfounded.

“Tinubu’s democratic credentials were established long before he became President through his active role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement.

“For that reason, he understands the importance of protecting democratic institutions and would never undermine the judiciary or support actions capable of eroding Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

Matawalle accused some opposition figures of deliberately spreading false narratives to portray the President as an enemy of democracy and a promoter of a one-party system.

“It is ironic that the same critics who blame the President whenever court decisions do not favour them fail to acknowledge judgments that clearly demonstrate the independence of the judiciary,” he said.

The minister also defended the Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity, alleging that some critics had sought to downplay the sacrifices and achievements of the Armed Forces through negative narratives.

Highlighting recent military successes, Matawalle said troops under Operation Fansan Yamma had dismantled several bandit enclaves, eliminated notorious gang leaders and recovered communities previously controlled by criminal elements across the North-West.

He assured Nigerians that President Tinubu remained committed to ending insecurity and would continue to provide the Armed Forces and other security agencies with the resources, equipment and political support needed to sustain ongoing operations against criminal elements.