Former President Goodluck Jonathan has attributed the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to certain rulings by the judiciary, which he believes have undermined the natural order of events and posed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Jonathan highlighted a particular judgment regarding the suspension and expulsion of a PDP National Chairman, urging the Supreme Court to revisit the decision. He expressed concern that such rulings have destabilized the political process, warning that they could have far-reaching consequences on the country’s democracy.
Speaking at an event in Abuja on Thursday, alongside notable figures such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BOB), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Jonathan shared his thoughts during the launch of 50 books authored by Mike Ozekhome (SAN) in celebration of his 67th birthday.
Addressing the current state of Nigeria’s political system, Jonathan said, “The way things are going in this country, especially with the judgments being handed down in political cases, it feels as though democracy in Nigeria is like a cone turned upside down. An inverted cone cannot be stable, and at the slightest disturbance, it will collapse.”
He expressed dismay over some of the rulings of the Supreme Court, referencing comments made by senior lawyers like Olisa Agbakoba. “When I hear respected legal minds criticize some judgments, I feel saddened by what our country has come to,” he said. “If our democracy is to survive, both the Bar and the Bench must remain above political influence.”
Jonathan also lamented the excessive litigation that follows elections in Nigeria, describing it as a stark contrast to practices in other countries. “In Nigeria, pre-election and post-election matters overwhelm our courts, and this is not a good sign for our democracy.”
Focusing on a specific judgment, he remarked, “There is one judgment that has been troubling me. Although I am not a lawyer, as a layman, I believe this judgment has upended the political order. If the courts do not reconsider it, it will create significant instability in the political system.”
Jonathan referred to a ruling where a Ward Chairman was deemed to have the authority to expel a National Chairman, calling it contrary to natural justice. “The law is meant to regulate human behavior, and it should align with how systems naturally work,” he said. “You cannot tell me that a Head of Department at a university can expel the Vice Chancellor. Similarly, how can a Ward Chairman expel a National Chairman of a political party?”
He pointed out that the PDP has been in crisis ever since that judgment was delivered, and even the All Progressives Congress (APC) faced instability at one point because of the same ruling. “I am not speaking from a legal perspective, but from a standpoint of common sense. In the PDP constitution, even a state cannot discipline a national officer, let alone a Ward Chairman.”
Jonathan concluded by appealing to the Supreme Court to revisit the judgment, stating, “That ruling has destabilized the political process and democracy is wobbling.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when asked to comment on the political situation, remained reserved, stating, “I wouldn’t say anything, because there is much to say, but the time is not yet right.”
Obasanjo, like other speakers, praised Ozekhome, describing him as an extraordinary individual.
