The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has emphasised on the need for reforms to strengthen the judiciary, as well as enhance its role in democratic sustainability.
According to him , the country’s democracy institutions are weak and needs to be reformed .
Ganduje who noted this at the 1st Inter-Party Advisory Council Roundtable held in Abuja on Thursday, noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Security bodies, Executives and also the common man needs to be reformed .
Ganduje particularly called for transparency and accountability within the judiciary.
The Roundtable is themed,” The role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democratic sustainability “.
According to him, these are essential for building public trust and confidence in the judicial system.
According to him, as political leaders, we must support efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and integrity within the judiciary to promote democratic sustainability.
He said the forum reflects the importance of the judiciary in our democratic system and commit ourselves to supporting its independence, accountability, and effectiveness.
In his remarks, IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, explained that the decision to commence the Roundtable Series was due to the fact that Judiciary is the bastion and bulwark of the nation’s democracy.
He said it is the stabilizing force and the last hope of all aggrieved people against opponents’ inclination, penchant and propensity for injustice.
He said, “The court is the Temple of Justice, its ministers are expected to be upright, men and women of integrity who will dispense justice no matter whose ox is gored.
“Priests in the temple of justice are expected to be God-fearing, courageous and fearless in the discharge of their constitutional duties, conscious of the fact that they sit in judgement over the affairs of fellow compatriots, acting on behalf of God who is the Judge of all. Like Caesar’s wife, they should live above board.
“Unfortunately, there seems to be anarchy and rebellion in the temple of justice – conflicting courts orders/judgements by courts of coordinate jurisdiction as witnessed recently in Rivers and Kano State as well as the growing perceptions of miscarriage of justice by some judgements delivered by Elections Petitions Tribunals and appeal courts which did not reflect the mandates of the people and led to mass actions in some States.
“The consequence of this development is the public lack of confidence in the administration of justice in Nigeria. It calls for urgent judicial reform to save the judiciary and restore its integrity and honour as the Temple of Justice and the last hope of all aggrieved people.
“Concerned by these developments in the polity with regards to the role of Judiciary in the democratic process, and with the clear understanding of the critical role of IPAC as the incubator of leadership within the Executive and Legislative arms across the three tiers of government and to a large extent the Judiciary as it relates to appointment of Judges at all levels.
“The Council thought it was necessary to convene a roundtable discussion among relevant stakeholders to explore the judiciary’s role in consolidating democracy in Nigeria, identify challenges, and propose solutions to enhance the judiciary’s effectiveness.”
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