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Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has urged political leaders to stop discrediting the judiciary whenever court rulings go against them, reminding critics that Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also secured a major political victory through the courts.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Sani reacted to the Federal High Court judgment affecting the registration of the NDC, saying respect for judicial decisions remains fundamental to Nigeria’s democratic system.
The governor warned that selectively accepting court judgments weakens public confidence in the judiciary and the rule of law.
“For some of us that believe in democracy, rule of law, judiciary, we believe we have to be very careful. Politicising every judicial issue is not healthy for us.”
Sani recalled that Obi retained his governorship of Anambra State after a landmark judicial ruling, arguing that many politicians now criticising the courts had previously relied on the same institution to secure electoral victories.
“Many actors that are involved were also beneficiaries of judicial decisions in this country. The leader of the NDC himself, Peter Obi, benefited from a very strong judicial pronouncement when he was governor.”
He added:
“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.”
While acknowledging that no judicial system is infallible, the governor said democracies thrive when institutions are respected, even when their decisions are unpopular.
“You have to understand, if you’re a democrat, believe in the system. Believe in our judiciary. Our judiciary is not perfect. Neither is it perfect anywhere in the world. But can we have faith in the system?”
Sani also dismissed allegations that the ruling All Progressives Congress or President Bola Tinubu was behind the challenges confronting opposition parties, insisting there was no evidence to support such claims.
“What is the evidence that the ruling party is involved in what is happening to them? If you ask me, sincerely speaking, it’s simply because they are only jumping from one party to another looking for just a platform to contest the election. They are not organised.”
He maintained that the instability within opposition parties stems from internal leadership struggles and the absence of clear ideological foundations, arguing that parties created mainly as election vehicles would continue to experience divisions and organisational crises.
