PDP crisis: Bode George writes NJC to protect judiciary’s integrity

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to protect the independence and integrity of the judiciary.

George, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, made the call at a news conference that he addressed in Lagos State on Friday.

He said this as he read an open letter, addressed to the Chairman of the NJC, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, over recent judicial developments relating to the party’s leadership crisis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the letter was tagged: “The Imperative of Preserving the Sanctity, Independence, and Integrity of the Nigerian Judiciary.”

George expressed concern that some court decisions were eroding public confidence in the judiciary and weakening constitutional democracy, especially the dispute that arose from a suit filed by the PDP Board of Trustees against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said the suit sought to compel INEC to implement existing judgments by updating its records to recognise the PDP leadership led by Chief Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).

The PDP chieftain, however, said the court dismissed the suit as a waste of judicial time.

George described the development as disturbing and inconsistent with constitutional principles governing judicial precedents.

He said: “Whether rightly or wrongly, whenever judicial pronouncements give rise to a reasonable public perception of political influence or constitutional inconsistency, confidence in the administration of justice is gravely diminished.

“Such perceptions, if left unaddressed, threaten not only the reputation of individual courts but the very legitimacy of the Judiciary itself.

“The Nigerian people deserve a justice system they can trust not one that appears to reward judicial impunity, embolden constitutional abuse, and accelerate the nation’s slide towards institutional collapse.

“No democracy can flourish where judicial recklessness is allowed to prevail or where political interference compromises the administration of justice.

“Such actions erode the independence of the Judiciary, diminish its integrity, weaken its moral authority, and ultimately undermine the rule of law; the very foundation upon which every constitutional democracy rests.”

According to the former Military Administrator, the NJC bears both a constitutional and moral responsibility to ensure that the bench remains beyond reproach.

He said that the erosion of judicial integrity threatened not merely individual litigants, but the very foundation of constitutional democracy itself.

George added: “If justice is perceived to be compromised, the rule of law is weakened, public confidence is shattered, and the legitimacy of democratic governance is placed in jeopardy.

“The independence of the Judiciary is not merely a constitutional provision; it is the cornerstone of liberty, the safeguard against executive excess, and the assurance that no citizen is above the law and none is beneath its protection.

“Once public confidence in the courts begins to erode, the consequences extend far beyond the courtroom.

“Respect for lawful authority diminishes, democratic institutions weaken, and the social contract upon which the Nigerian State is built begins to fracture.”

George called for courage, fidelity to the judicial oath, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of justice without fear or favour, affection, or ill will.

He said: “The National Judicial Council must continue to demonstrate, both in action and in resolve, that the Judiciary remains insulated from every form of external influence and committed solely to the dictates of the Constitution and the law.

“The integrity of the Judiciary is not negotiable; it is the lifeblood of the Nigerian Republic.

“The Judiciary remains the last hope of the common man only so long as the common man remains convinced that justice is administered according to law, guided by the Constitution, and uninfluenced by power or expediency.”

According to the PDP chieftain, the preservation of that confidence is the solemn responsibility of every judicial officer, and ultimately, of the National Judicial Council itself

He added: “I therefore respectfully call upon the National Judicial Council to discharge its constitutional mandate with the courage, impartiality and firmness expected of the guardian of judicial ethics and accountability.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖