Tension briefly rose on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as a group of protesters marched to the premises, accusing President Bola Tinubu of interfering in the country’s judiciary and electoral processes.
The demonstrators, operating under the banner of Concerned Northern Nigeria Stakeholders, gathered at the court entrance in Wuse, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with messages such as “No Opposition, No Election” and “Tinubu, Let Our Democracy Breathe.”
Security personnel, including operatives of the Department of State Services, quickly barricaded the entrance and prevented the group from gaining access to the court premises.
Speaking to journalists, the group’s leader, Banki Sharrif, accused the federal government of undermining democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary and the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He warned that any attempt to weaken opposition parties or influence court decisions could destabilise the country’s democracy.
Sharrif also raised concerns about the role of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, urging that the office remain strictly neutral and not be used for political purposes.
Read Also:
NDC Holds Delta Congress, Inaugurates New State Executives
According to him, democracy depends on fairness, competition, and equal opportunity for all political actors, stressing that weakening opposition voices could lead to political exclusion and national unrest.
The protesters further cautioned that public confidence in the judiciary could be eroded if it is perceived as being influenced by the executive arm of government, warning that such a situation could push aggrieved citizens toward street agitation.
The demonstration comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in Abuja, where a suit filed with the backing of the Attorney General seeks the deregistration of several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, alongside others such as the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and the Zenith Labour Party.
The case, currently before the Federal High Court, has further heightened political tensions, with stakeholders closely watching its potential impact on Nigeria’s electoral landscape ahead of future elections.
