A group under the aegis of Northern Nigerian Concerned Stakeholders on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Abuja over what they referred to as rising concerns about the judiciary and democracy.
Converging at Unity Fountain before proceeding to the Federal High Court where they addressed journalists, the convener, Banki Shariff, said the demonstration was peaceful and aimed at drawing urgent national attention to anything that can threaten constitutional order.
“We stand today at the steps of the Federal High Court, a symbol of justice and constitutional order for this peaceful protest. The issues before this nation are grave and history would not be kind to us over any silence or complicity if we allow democracy to derail.
“Our courts must never be involved in political engineering. The moment justice is manipulated, the nation itself is placed on trial,” they said.
He said the group’s message was directed at the judiciary and all constitutional actors, stressing that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy depends on adherence to the rule of law rather than political pressure or convenience.
Sharrif therefore, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist any attempt from anywhere towards judicial interference as such actions, it noted, could undermine public trust.
“Democracy cannot function under calculated manipulation. Lawful opposition are not inconveniences, but the lifeblood of any functioning republic.
“If the courts lend legitimacy to such actions without strict adherence to due process and substantive justice, it will be seen as judicial endorsement of political exclusion. That path is disenfranchisement, deepens division, and could trigger widespread unrest,” they said.
The group urged the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to remain neutral while upholding the rule of law.
Shariff particularly cautioned the judiciary against relying on technicalities or administrative actions that could weaken political parties, particularly those with strong support in northern Nigeria, saying any perception of judicial bias could erode public confidence.
“We are closely monitoring every pronouncement of the courts. We would continue to defend democracy through lawful, peaceful and constitutional means,” he said.