Chief Bode George, the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, has called on the National Judicial Council to safeguard the independence and integrity of Nigeria's courts. The elder statesman raised concerns about a recent judgment in a case touching on the party's leadership crisis.
In a letter to the NJC chairman on Friday, George spoke out as a concerned citizen and member of the PDP Board of Trustees. He said the court ruling had sparked questions about public confidence in the justice system and the courts' role in protecting constitutional democracy.
The lawsuit in question was filed by the PDP Board of Trustees and its chairman. They sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to enforce existing Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Federal High Court judgments that recognised Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as the party's authentic leader.
Rather than address the constitutional issues at stake, the court dismissed the case as a waste of time, George explained. The ruling also imposed costs of N140 million against the Board of Trustees and a further N10 million against their legal team.
George described the judgment as deeply troubling and said it extended beyond internal party matters. "The issues involved touched on broader principles of constitutional governance and the rule of law," he noted in his letter.
The PDP elder also condemned the Nyesom Wike faction's expulsion of senior party members as illogical and inconsistent with party structures. He said such actions undermined the party's credibility.
George argued that courts occupy a special role as guardians of the Constitution and the rule of law. Any appearance of political influence or constitutional inconsistency in judicial decisions risked damaging public trust in the judiciary, he warned.
He reminded the NJC of its constitutional duty to preserve judicial independence, discipline and ethical standards. The council must act whenever court rulings provoke widespread public concern, George insisted.
The letter titled "The imperative of preserving the sanctity, independence and integrity of the Nigerian judiciary" reflects growing anxiety within the PDP over the direction of the legal proceedings. George's intervention signals that senior party figures remain deeply dissatisfied with how courts have handled the factional dispute.
The PDP has remained fractured following the 2023 general elections, with multiple factions claiming legitimacy and recognition. Several court cases have sought to resolve which leadership faction deserves official recognition from electoral and party authorities.
George's intervention underscores the stakes involved in the ongoing litigation. He believes the judiciary's credibility depends on handling such disputes fairly and transparently.
