The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns over what it described as growing interference by the courts in the internal affairs of political parties, warning that such actions could damage public confidence in the judicial system.
The party said courts should avoid taking decisions that make them appear partisan or political. According to the PDP, when courts go beyond their constitutional role, they risk being seen as politicians rather than neutral arbiters.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Ini Ememobong, made these comments on Friday during an interview on Arise Television. He was reacting to recent court rulings involving the leadership and structure of the opposition party.
Ememobong said that while the PDP has great respect for the judiciary, it believes that courts must exercise restraint when dealing with matters that fall strictly within the internal workings of political parties.
“Courts are gradually becoming politicians,” he said, adding that such a situation could harm democracy if not checked.
He referred to a recent court verdict and said it showed wisdom on the part of the judge. According to him, the ruling reflected a proper reading of the PDP constitution.
“Well, this verdict only shows the wisdom that my lord used in arriving at that because I’m sure that my lord cannot point to the constitution of the party anywhere where there is a national caretaker,” Ememobong stated.
He explained that political parties are guided by their constitutions, which clearly spell out leadership structures, procedures, and dispute resolution mechanisms. In his view, courts should respect these provisions except where there is a clear violation of the law.
Despite his criticism, Ememobong stressed that the PDP still holds the judiciary in high regard. However, he warned that repeated court involvement in party affairs could create negative public perception.
“But again, I have tremendous respect for the court and which is why the court should stay away from the internal affairs of the party so that they don’t become politicians,” he said.
He added that perception plays a major role in how institutions are judged by the public. According to him, even when decisions are legally sound, they can still raise doubts if people begin to question the neutrality of those making them.
“You do know that perception and reality may have divergence, but when they converge to the extent that people lose faith in a process, then something is wrong,” Ememobong said.
The PDP spokesman also cited what he described as troubling optics involving senior judicial officers and members of the executive arm of government. Although he was careful not to make direct accusations, he said such interactions could fuel public suspicion.
He referred to a public visit by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, during which issues relating to land and housing for judges were discussed.
“I’m not saying anything, but I’m simply saying that you find a situation where the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court goes to beg the Minister of the FCT for land and houses for judges of the Federal High Court,” he said.
According to him, the visit was widely reported and available on video, making it a matter of public record. He noted that during the interaction, the minister reportedly discussed plans to allocate land or housing to judges across different jurisdictions.
“The courtesy call was public and the minister was even saying, oh, how many of you are there across different jurisdictions? Oh, we’ll start with the senior judges or the younger judges and all of that,” Ememobong added.
While maintaining that the PDP was not accusing any judge of wrongdoing, he said such developments could raise questions in the minds of ordinary Nigerians, especially when sensitive political cases later come before the courts.
“And incidentally, all these cases go to those people. We are not accusing them, but we are simply saying perception,” he said.
He stressed that one of the most important principles of the justice system is that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.
This principle, often quoted in legal circles, means that court decisions must appear fair and impartial to the public, not just to lawyers and judges. When people begin to doubt this fairness, trust in the justice system can weaken.
The PDP has been involved in several legal battles in recent years, many of them linked to leadership disputes, candidate selection, and internal party disagreements. These cases have often resulted in conflicting court orders, adding to confusion within the party.
Others, however, believe that excessive judicial intervention in party matters can weaken internal democracy and encourage forum shopping, where politicians look for favourable courts to support their positions.
The PDP’s comments come at a time when public trust in key institutions, including the judiciary, is under close scrutiny. Nigerians have increasingly called for transparency, independence, and accountability across all arms of government.
As Nigeria prepares for future elections, the role of the courts in resolving political disputes is expected to remain significant. Election petitions, party primaries, and leadership struggles often end up before judges, placing the judiciary at the centre of political life.
For the PDP, the message is clear: while the party respects the courts, it believes there must be clear boundaries. According to Ememobong, those boundaries are necessary to protect both democracy and the credibility of the judiciary.
He warned that if courts are perceived as taking sides or becoming too involved in political matters, the long-term consequences could be damaging.