Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has urged political leaders to avoid politicising court judgments, saying confidence in the judiciary remains essential to Nigeria’s democracy. He argued that Uba Sani judiciary remarks reflect the need for politicians to respect judicial outcomes, whether favourable or not.
Sani made the remarks during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday while responding to questions about the recent Federal High Court ruling affecting the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The governor said public confidence in the courts should not depend on whether a judgment favours a particular political interest. According to Sani, politicians often praise the judiciary when court decisions work in their favour but criticise the same institution when rulings go against them.
“For some of us that believe in democracy, rule of law, judiciary, we believe we have to be very careful. Politicizing every judicial issue is not healthy for us.”
The governor recalled that NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi had previously benefited from a significant judicial decision during his political career. He noted that Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State was secured through a landmark court judgment, arguing that this demonstrated why political actors should consistently respect judicial institutions.
“Because many actors that are involved, they were also beneficiaries of some judicial decisions in this country. Whether the leader of NDC himself, I mean the presidential candidate, Peter Obi, remember he was also someone that benefited from a very strong judicial pronouncement when he was governor.” Sani added that politicians should not apply different standards to the judiciary depending on the outcome of individual cases.
“When it favors politicians, they feel the judiciary is the best place to go. When it goes against them, they feel the judiciary is the worst place to go.” He acknowledged that no judicial system is flawless but maintained that democracies depend on citizens and political leaders having faith in their institutions.
“You have to understand, if you’re a democrat, believe in the system. Believe in our judiciary. I have no doubt in my mind. Our judiciary is not perfect. Neither is it perfect anywhere in the world. But in any case, can we have faith in the system?”
Addressing claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or President Bola Tinubu’s administration was responsible for challenges facing opposition parties, Sani dismissed the allegations. He said there was no evidence linking the APC to the internal disputes affecting opposition groups. According to the governor, many opposition politicians were moving from one political platform to another primarily in search of an electoral vehicle rather than building stable organisations.
He argued that the recurring disagreements were driven largely by contests over presidential ambitions and power-sharing arrangements instead of external interference. Sani further maintained that political parties established mainly for election purposes, rather than on clear ideological foundations, would continue to experience internal instability.
The Uba Sani judiciary comments come amid ongoing legal and political debates ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Kaduna governor maintained that respect for judicial decisions and stronger institutional confidence remain vital to sustaining Nigeria’s democratic system, regardless of the political interests involved.
