ACC: Unbiased judiciary needed for sustainable democracy

The Allied Conservative Congress (ACC), a political party seeking registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says Nigeria needs an unbiased judiciary for a sustainable democracy.

Speaking at the national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Thursday, Mohammed Lawal, ACC secretary, said judicial officers need to be upright and decide cases “without fear or favour”.

Lawal noted that justice should not be for the highest bidder, adding that the court is the last hope of all aggrieved people.

He said conflicting judgments by courts of coordinated jurisdiction are making a “mockery of the administration of justice in Nigeria,” adding that Nigerians are fast losing confidence in the judiciary.

“The urgent need to overhaul the judiciary cannot be overemphasised. An unbiased judiciary is critical for sustainable democracy,” he said.

“Judicial officers must be firm and above board in upholding the rule of law, as so much is required of them in strengthening, deepening, and consolidating the nation’s democracy.”

On Saturday, the National Judicial Council (NJC) suspended G. C. Aguma, judge of a state high court in Rivers, and his Anambra counterpart, A. O. Nwabunike, for alleged judicial misconduct.

‘NIGERIANS OVERWHELMED WITH HARDSHIP’

The ACC secretary said the hardship in the country is hitting citizens harder, noting that average Nigerians are struggling to feed.

“Today, things have fallen apart. The state of the nation is bad. Patriotism, the glue that held the nation together, is lacking in most leaders and citizens,” he said.

“There is confusion in governance as the ship of the Nigerian state drifts on its perilous course buffeted by insecurity and poverty.

“Citizens are overwhelmed by hardship and poor leadership at all levels of government and now desire a change from the illusive progressivism that impedes the nation’s democracy to conservatism that will foster unity, equity, morality, security, and prosperity.

“It is this clear conservative ideology that inspired, stirred, and spurred eminent Nigerians across the country to come together on the platform of the Allied Conservative Congress to redirect the ship of the nation to the path of rectitude, development, and advancement in tandem with the provision of section 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

“It takes political will to fight corruption and insecurity in the country and restore sanity in the polity. Nigeria is the only country we have; we must join hands and salvage it together. Together, we will build a strong conservative democratic nation present and future generations will be proud of.”

Lawal added that ACC said it is on a “rescue mission to save Nigeria from self-seeking politicians masquerading as democrats”.

He said national interest should supersede partisan politics and personal aggrandisement at all times for the country’s growth and progress.