The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has initiated legal action against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and others, accusing them of judicial bias, abuse of powers, and disobedience of court orders. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also names the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Justice Peter Lifu as defendants.
ADC's Legal Challenge
The ADC's National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, filed the suit seeking to compel the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption and bias against the two judicial officers. Ukandu is seeking to be joined in an ongoing case challenging the leadership of Senator David Mark-led ADC. He accused Tsoho of improperly reassigning the case from Justice Emeka Nwite to Lifu, despite a Supreme Court directive that the matter be returned to Nwite for determination of jurisdictional issues. According to the plaintiff, the reassignment violated the Supreme Court's order and subsequent directives from Justice Nwite.
NNPP's Threat of Protests
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with court judgments affirming its leadership structure or face massive nationwide protests. NNPP factional National Chairman, Mr. Agbo Major, stated that despite clear judicial pronouncements, INEC continues to recognize an expelled faction. He warned that if INEC persists in denying them official recognition, they would return to court to seek an abridgement of time or a shift of the general elections.
APC's Stance on Internal Democracy
Speaking during a visit by the British High Commissioner, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said the APC has become a benchmark for political parties in Nigeria due to its commitment to internal democracy. He noted that other parties, including the ADC and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are learning from the APC's transparent electoral processes. Yilwatda highlighted that less than three per cent of the party's primary election outcomes generated petitions, demonstrating the exercises were largely peaceful and acceptable.
