APC has captured, weaponized judiciary against opposition – Obidient movement

By Jude Opara

The Obidient Movement on Monday alleged that recent court ruling against the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is a clear indication that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has captured and weaponized the judiciary against the opposition political parties.

The Movement further claimed that the ruling is aimed at stopping its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso from contesting the 2027 general election, but insisted that Obi and Kwankwaso, will appear on the ballot despite the court pronouncement.

National Coordinator of the Obidient movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko while addressing a press conference titled “The Road to Anarchy: A Press Conference by the Obidient Movement on Recent Dangerous Judicial Pronouncements in Nigeria,” accused the judiciary of allowing itself to be used to undermine opposition parties.

The movement further alleged that the judiciary had abandoned its role as an impartial arbiter by allegedly aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate the opposition.

“We are completely blunt: the Nigerian judiciary is actively surrendering itself to the dictation and caprices of the APC regime. It is no longer behaving as an impartial guardian of justice; it has been captured and weaponised as a tool of partisan warfare,” Tanko said.

According to Tanko, the court judgement deregistering the NDC was politically motivated and strictly intended to frustrate Obi’s presidential ambition after he joined the party.

“Just three days after Nigeria’s incoming president, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, joined the NDC, a fictitious case was filed by a faceless entity to deregister the NDC, even though it had no locus standi in the case. And in a very laughable manner, the judiciary entertained the case and passed a kangaroo judgement on Friday, June 26, 2026.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this is a hatchet job by the present administration to ensure that our principal, Mr. Peter Obi, is not on the ballot in 2027.”

Tanko while warning of the consequences of what he termed judicial interference in the democratic process, said the courts remained the last line of defence against anarchy.

“The judiciary exists as the ultimate buffer between peace and chaos. It is the peacekeeping arm of civilised society. But if the judiciary outlives its usefulness, if it tells the common man that the courtroom is merely a marketplace where justice goes to the highest bidder or the most ruthless dictator, then the judiciary itself is signing the death warrant of our nation,” he said.

He warned that continued erosion of public confidence in the judiciary could encourage citizens to disregard the rule of law.

According to him, the ruling party was allegedly attempting to weaken opposition platforms because it feared losing the 2027 elections.

“The ruling elite is utterly terrified. They see the massive, unstoppable coalition building under the NDC banner. They know they cannot win a free and fair contest on the merits of their disastrous governance. That is why they are desperately deploying state infrastructure and judicial technicalities to deregister and suppress viable opposition parties before a single ballot is cast in 2027,” he stated.

However, he called on supporters of the movement across the country to remain calm notwithstanding what he described as attempts to frustrate the opposition using both legal and institutional instruments.

Tanko also added that the Obi/Kwankwaso opposition ticket would participate in the 2027 presidential election despite the court ruling.

“The joint ticket of His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, and His Excellency, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, will be on the ballot in 2027, and we will defeat Tinubu, the APC, INEC, the judiciary, and all other state machinery working against a new Nigeria”, he concluded.