Veteran journalist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has called for stricter accountability within Nigeria’s judiciary, warning that the courts must not be allowed to weaken the country’s democratic system.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Momodu expressed concern over judicial decisions that, in his view, undermine public confidence in the rule of law.
His remarks followed a recent ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional electoral performance requirements.
However, the Court of Appeal later halted the implementation of the judgment, describing the ruling as a serious case of judicial overreach.
Reacting to the development, Momodu urged authorities to sanction judges who issue what he termed “rascally judgments,” insisting that judicial officers who ignore due process or act contrary to superior court decisions should face consequences.
According to him, preserving the credibility of the judiciary is essential for sustaining democracy and maintaining citizens’ trust in the legal system.
In a separate interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, Momodu also revealed that he once advised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to form a political alliance with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Momodu said he encouraged Obi to work closely with Atiku, noting that the former vice president played a significant role in raising Obi’s national political profile by selecting him as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
He recalled that Atiku’s decision was unpopular among some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors at the time, but the former vice president remained committed to his choice.
Drawing examples from Nigeria, Ghana, and the United States, Momodu argued that serving as a deputy can provide a pathway to higher political office. He cited former Ghanaian President John Mahama, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, and former U.S. President Joe Biden as leaders who eventually attained the highest office after serving as vice president.
Despite the advice, Momodu said Obi was unconvinced, maintaining that he enjoyed greater popularity than Atiku and therefore did not see the need for such a political arrangement.
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