Legal luminary and human rights activist Chief Niyi Aborisade, Sunday raised serious concerns over conflicting judgments delivered by different courts on related political matters, warning that such contradictions are eroding public confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary.
It would be recalled that there have been conflicting judgments in leadership tussles within the rank of the Peoples’ Democratic [PDP]. The latest of such verdict came on Friday with Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, affirming the validity of the 2025 Elective Convention of the party which produced Dr. Kabiru Turaki as the substantive chairman of the party. However, a Federal High Court had invalidated the convention.
Speaking in Ibadan, Aborisade, who is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress [ADC] in Oyo State, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to intervene and restore discipline within the system.
According to the historian, recent rulings by courts in cases involving political parties highlighted a disturbing trend of inconsistency. “There have been conflicting judgments from different courts, and that is unhealthy for our democracy,” he said, emphasising that such discrepancies undermine the role of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Aborisade expressed concern that the conflicting lower court rulings could already be causing confusion and suspicion among Nigerians.
He noted that the Court of Appeal had previously directed that all related matters be consolidated for proper determination.
“The judiciary is meant to be a pillar of justice, impartiality, and integrity. But when judges of coordinate jurisdiction deliver contradictory decisions on similar matters, it creates uncertainty and erodes the faith that citizens place in the system
“Some of the recent judgments may ultimately mean little until the appellate court makes a final pronouncement. Some people are celebrating certain judgments as victories for the PDP. In my view, that is premature. The substantive issues are still before the Court of Appeal. Until a final decision is made, no faction can claim total victory.
‘’Political parties must resolve their internal crises through lawful and transparent processes. Otherwise, they risk weakening themselves ahead of elections,” Aborisade said.
He further urged the NJC, the statutory body responsible for the discipline of judges, to step in and review such cases. “The NJC must ensure that judges deliver consistent rulings, and where necessary, call erring judges to order. Without decisive action, public trust in the courts will continue to deteriorate, which is dangerous for the stability of our democracy,” Aborisade warned.
Aborisade emphasised that without immediate corrective measures, the credibility of the judiciary, long regarded as a cornerstone of Nigerian democracy, risks being permanently undermined.
He called on all stakeholders, including judicial authorities and civil society groups, to support the NJC in ensuring that judges uphold the highest standards of discipline, consistency, and integrity.
“Our democracy is only as strong as the institutions that support it, and the judiciary must remain beyond reproach if we are to safeguard the rule of law,” he said.
