LONDON, June 29, 2026 – Political economist and public intellectual Prof. Anthony Kila has condemned what he described as the weaponisation of the judiciary by politicians, saying the practice is undermining Nigeria’s democracy and weakening the country’s democratic institutions.
Speaking on Arise News’ morning programme, hosted by Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni, and Ayo Mairo-Ese, the Director-General of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) commented on the recent Federal High Court ruling involving the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and expressed broader concerns about the judiciary’s growing role in political disputes.
Concern Over the NDC Judgment
While stressing that there was no evidence of direct manipulation of the courts, Prof. Kila said the circumstances surrounding the ruling had created a damaging public perception.
“I have no evidence to show that the judiciary is being manipulated, but the optics are bad,” he said.
He warned that the increasing judicial involvement in political contests risks transforming Nigeria into what he described as a “kritocracy” — a system in which judges, rather than elected representatives, effectively determine political outcomes.
‘Shame on the Politicians’
Prof. Kila reserved his strongest criticism for politicians who resort to the courts to resolve internal political disagreements.
“The shame on the politicians who weaponise the judiciary. They are the corrupters of democracy. Shame on them because they corrupt democracy. Shame on them because they come out as weaklings,” he said.
According to him, many politicians have failed to develop the political maturity required to manage disagreements within their parties.
“Politicians are the ones taking their cases to the judiciary because we have a bunch of people who are not capable of managing their affairs internally. They have to run to judges to overrule themselves, destroy their parties and destroy people’s careers.”
He argued that political leaders should strengthen democratic institutions instead of weakening them through endless litigation.
Judiciary Must Also Accept Responsibility
Although he criticised politicians, Prof. Kila said the judiciary must also accept responsibility for allowing itself to become entangled in political contests.
He spoke of what he described as a perceived “lack of character” within the judicial system and urged judges to exercise greater wisdom, restraint, and sensitivity when handling politically significant cases.
Judicial decisions, he said, should not create the impression that the courts are being used to determine political outcomes.
Prof. Kila urged political actors across party lines to place Nigeria’s democratic stability above partisan interests.
He appealed to the Presidency and the governing party to publicly distance themselves from any perception of suppressing opposition parties, warning that attempts to eliminate or weaken major opposition platforms could damage Nigeria’s democratic reputation both domestically and internationally.
Call for Institutional Reform
The political economist also advocated far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening democratic governance.
Among his recommendations were greater financial and institutional independence for the judiciary, clear timelines for the registration of political parties to prevent prolonged legal disputes, and a broader cultural shift among political leaders towards preserving, rather than destroying, democratic institutions.
His remarks come amid ongoing legal disputes surrounding the NDC after a Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
The ruling has generated widespread political debate, with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar warning that actions capable of weakening opposition parties could pave the way for a one-party state.
Prof. Anthony A. Kila is a Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development, jurist, political economist, and policy analyst. He is widely recognised for his contributions to public policy, governance, and institutional reform in Nigeria.
The full interview is available on the Arise News YouTube channel.
