Judiciary must save Nigeria’s democracy, not align with APC – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that he believes the judiciary would remain the ‘last hope of the common man’ and save Nigeria’s democracy.

Atiku stated this in an X post Tuesday in reaction to the letter written by his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to demand quick delivery of judgment in the leadership crisis threatening its political fortunes.

The party, which is home to a coalition of frontline opposition figures in the country, lamented in its letter that without the Supreme Court delivering its judgment within the next three days, it would face the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections.

The letter, dated April 28, which was written by the Senator David Mark-led faction of the ADC, drew the attention of the CJN to the election timetable and schedule of activities that were earlier released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Insisting that the ADC’s ability to participate in the general elections would be wholly dependent on the timely delivery of judgment in the appeal before the apex court, the party warned that its exclusion would amount to disenfranchising millions of Nigerians.

Atiku claimed in his post that Nigeria’s democracy is being threatened by the All Progressives Congress (APC), but re-emphasised his belief in the judiciary.

“It is increasingly evident that Nigeria’s democracy, and indeed the integrity of the 2027 general elections is in serious jeopardy. Democracy itself is now facing an existential threat,” he wrote.

“However, I do not want to believe that the judiciary, long regarded as the last hope of the common man, would align with the ruling APC in any effort that could undermine or destroy our democratic foundations.”

A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, had on April 22 reserved judgment in the leadership crisis rocking the ADC, after hearing from all parties.

The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, was filed by Senator Mark.

The appellant prayed the court to set aside a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment, which he said was against the interest of justice.

He argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction by ordering maintenance of the status quo ante bellum in a suit filed by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu-Bala Gombe.

Mark contended that the dispute involves a political party’s domestic affairs, in which courts lack jurisdiction to intervene.