Ganduje: Politicians Must Ensure Judiciary’s Freedom from External Influence

• Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje urged politicians to protect the judiciary from external influences, emphasizing its role in sustaining democracy in Nigeria
• Ganduje highlighted the need for reforms in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, stressing that strong institutions are essential for the country’s stability

Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on politicians and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic process to safeguard the judiciary from external influences. At the first Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) roundtable in Abuja, Ganduje emphasized the vital role of an independent judiciary in sustaining democracy.

“As political leaders, we must support efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and integrity within the judiciary to promote democratic sustainability. An independent judiciary is crucial for upholding justice, fairness, and the rule of law,” Ganduje stated.

He stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in building public trust in the judicial system, urging all stakeholders to ensure that the judiciary remains free from external interference. Ganduje also highlighted the need for reforms in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and security agencies, noting that strong institutions are essential for the country’s stability.

Former Senator Shehu Sani, who also spoke at the event, criticized Nigerian presidents’ reluctance to pursue electoral reforms due to concerns about their political futures. He commended former President Goodluck Jonathan for his commitment to electoral reforms, including appointing an INEC chairman he had never met. He questioned why other democratic institutions do not share the judiciary’s reputation as the “last hope of the common man.”

Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, the IPAC National Chairman, underscored the judiciary’s role as the stabilizing force in Nigeria’s democracy. He called for urgent judicial reforms to address recent controversial judgments that have eroded public confidence in the judiciary. He warned that the current situation, marked by conflicting court orders and perceived miscarriages of justice, threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system.

Dantalle concluded, “There seems to be anarchy in the temple of justice. This development has led to a public lack of confidence in the administration of justice in Nigeria. Urgent reform is needed to restore the judiciary’s integrity and honour.”