The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its celebration of the commissioning of residential quarters for judges, warning that such actions could erode public confidence in the independence of the judiciary.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party acknowledged that judges deserve decent accommodation, adequate security, and improved welfare. However, it argued that these provisions should not be presented as personal achievements or favours from political office holders.
“Judges deserve decent accommodation, adequate security, and proper welfare. However, these must not be packaged as personal achievements of government officials or as favours from politicians. They are constitutional obligations of government funded by the Nigerian taxpayer,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC stressed that its concern was not with the housing project itself, but with the perception created when the executive arm of government is portrayed as a benefactor to an independent arm of the state.
According to the party, neither President Bola Tinubu nor the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, should receive personal acclaim for executing responsibilities financed through public funds.
“What the APC has done by awarding personal acclaim to both the President and his minister for building houses for judges is to create the impression that the welfare of judges is subject to the whims and benevolence of government officials,” the statement said.
The party further argued that the judiciary must never be placed in a position where its welfare appears dependent on political actors whose actions may eventually come before the courts for adjudication.
“In every constitutional democracy governed by the principle of separation of powers, the judiciary must never be placed in a position where its welfare can be publicly portrayed as a favour granted by political actors whose interests may ultimately come before the courts,” Abdullahi added.
ADC described as troubling what it called the APC’s attempt to portray President Tinubu and Wike as patrons of the judiciary, saying such narratives risk undermining public trust in the impartiality of the courts.
The party also expressed concern that the development could reinforce existing public perceptions of executive influence over the judiciary.
“This is particularly disturbing given the widespread perception that the President and Minister Wike already wield undue influence over the judiciary. The APC’s celebration of the duo can only strengthen such beliefs,” the statement noted.
Responding to claims that the project demonstrates government efforts to strengthen judicial independence, the ADC insisted that true judicial independence extends beyond infrastructure projects.
According to the party, judicial independence is measured by institutional autonomy, financial independence, security of tenure, freedom from political pressure, and public confidence that judges remain accountable only to the Constitution and the law.
“Judicial independence is not achieved by the number of buildings commissioned by politicians. It is measured by the ability of the judiciary to operate free from political interference and by the confidence of citizens in the integrity of the justice system,” the statement concluded.
