Northern stakeholders under the aegis of the Northern Nigerians Concern Stakeholders, on Monday, staged a peaceful protest in Abuja over growing concerns about the judiciary and the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
The protesters converged at Unity Fountain before proceeding to the Federal High Court, where they addressed journalists and presented their demands.
Speaking at the protest, the Convener of the group, Banki Shariff, said the demonstration was peaceful but aimed at drawing urgent national attention to what he described as serious threats to constitutional order.
Shariff said: “We stand today at the steps of the Federal High Court, a symbol of justice and constitutional order, to sound a clear, urgent, and uncompromising alarm. This is a peaceful protest, but let there be no mistake: the issues before this nation are grave and history will not be kind to silence or complicity.
“Courts must never be reduced to instruments of political engineering. The moment justice is manipulated, the nation itself is placed on trial.”
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.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to desist from any form of interference in the judiciary, warning that such actions could undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
The group also raised concerns about what it described as attempts to weaken opposition voices, noting that democracy thrives on competition and dissent.
Shariff added, “Democracy cannot function under intimidation, coercion, or calculated
manipulation. Civic space, dissent, and lawful opposition are not inconveniences are the lifeblood of any functioning republic.
“A government that seeks to weaken opposition betrays a lack of confidence
in its own legitimacy. Democracy thrives on competition. Suppressing it is not strength, it is fear. The emerging pattern of actions points unmistakably toward a dangerous
drift into authoritarianism.
“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 dangerous, it risks disenfranchisement, deepens division, and could trigger widespread unrest.”
They further urged the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to remain neutral and uphold the rule of law, warning against its alleged use for political purposes.
Shariff also cautioned the judiciary against relying on technicalities or administrative actions that could weaken or delist political parties, particularly those with strong support in Northern Nigeria.
The group warned that any perception of judicial bias could erode public confidence and lead to broader instability, saying that, “Where the judiciary is perceived as an extension of the executive, citizens inevitably lose faith in lawful remedies. When courts fail, the streets become the courtroom.
“We are closely monitoring every action of this administration and every pronouncement of the courts. We will continue to defend democracy through lawful, peaceful, and constitutional means.”
He added that the group remained resolute in its demands, urging authorities to uphold the Constitution, protect judicial independence, and ensure the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.