Peter Obi judicial decisions became the focus of comments by Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, who has urged political leaders to stop politicising court rulings and maintain confidence in Nigeria’s judicial system.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, the governor addressed public reactions to a Federal High Court judgment affecting the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), stressing that respect for the judiciary is essential to sustaining democracy.
Sani said politicians should avoid praising the courts only when judgments favour them while condemning the judiciary whenever decisions are unfavourable. According to him, confidence in democratic institutions must remain consistent regardless of political outcomes.
“For some of us that believe in democracy, rule of law, judiciary, we believe we have to be very careful. Politicizing every judicial issue is not healthy for us,” he said.
While making his argument, the governor recalled that former Anambra State governor and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi had previously benefited from judicial intervention during his political career.
Sani said the Peter Obi judicial decisions demonstrated that many politicians who criticise court rulings today had, at different times, relied on the judiciary to secure political victories.
“Because many actors that are involved, they were also beneficiaries of some judicial decisions in this country. Whether the leader of NDC himself—I mean the presidential candidate, Peter Obi—remember he was also someone that benefited from a very strong judicial pronouncement when he was governor.
“When it favors 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 added.
Although he acknowledged that no judicial system is flawless, the governor maintained that democrats should continue to trust the courts and other constitutional institutions.
“You have to understand, if you’re a democrat, believe in the system. Believe in our judiciary. I have no doubt in my mind. Our judiciary is not perfect. Neither is it perfect anywhere in the world. But in any case, can we have faith in the system?” he said.
Sani also rejected claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or President Bola Tinubu’s administration was responsible for the internal challenges facing opposition parties.
He said there was no evidence linking the APC to the disputes and argued that many opposition parties continue to struggle because of internal disagreements over presidential ambitions and power-sharing arrangements. According to the governor, parties established primarily as platforms for elections rather than organisations built on shared ideology are more likely to experience recurring crises.
His remarks come amid continued public debate over the Federal High Court ruling and renewed discussions surrounding Peter Obi judicial decisions and the role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democratic process.
