Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to protect the independence, integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s judiciary, warning that recent developments surrounding the party’s leadership dispute could undermine public confidence in the nation’s justice system.
In an open letter addressed to the Chairman of the NJC, George said his intervention was motivated by his responsibilities as a concerned citizen, democrat and member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT). He maintained that the issues raised extend beyond internal party politics and directly affect constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
The dispute centres on a lawsuit filed by the PDP BoT seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to update its records in line with previous judgments of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Federal High Court. According to George, the action sought recognition of the faction led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, as the authentic leadership of the party.
However, George lamented that instead of determining whether INEC was legally bound to implement the existing court judgments, the court dismissed the suit, describing it as a waste of judicial time. He further disclosed that the court imposed costs of ₦140 million against the PDP Board of Trustees and an additional ₦10 million against the party’s legal counsel.
The elder statesman also criticised the reported expulsion of senior PDP leaders by the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He described the move as illogical, arguing that long-standing custodians of the party could not reasonably be expelled by individuals they had helped build into leadership positions.
George stressed that Nigeria’s constitutional order depends on respect for judicial precedent, noting that judgments of the Supreme Court and other superior courts remain binding until overturned by a competent court. He argued that administrative institutions, including INEC, have no legal authority to ignore or delay compliance with valid court judgments.
Highlighting the constitutional responsibilities of the judiciary, George reminded the NJC that its mandate extends beyond disciplining judicial officers to preserving public confidence in the justice system. According to him, judicial decisions that generate widespread concerns over constitutional consistency or political influence deserve careful institutional attention.
He warned that public perception of compromised justice could weaken confidence in democratic institutions, diminish respect for the rule of law and threaten constitutional governance. George therefore urged the NJC to demonstrate courage, impartiality and fidelity to the Constitution by ensuring that the judiciary remains free from political interference.
Reaffirming his confidence in the institution, George maintained that the judiciary remains the last hope of ordinary Nigerians only if citizens continue to believe that justice is administered fairly, independently and strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law. He called on the NJC to preserve that confidence by safeguarding judicial ethics, accountability and the integrity of the Bench.
