Honourable Balarabe Rufai, national youth leader of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), has rallied hundreds of protesters at the Federal High Court in Maitama to oppose Honourable Justice Peter Odo Lifu over a “very contentious decision” that ordered the deregistration of four political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Protesters held a variety of posters like “Judiciary is not for sale,” “Judiciary is our last hope,” and “Don’t force Nigerians into chaos” as they chanted “Justice Lifu must go.” “No to one party state” and “Save our democracy now” are among the many.
From the party’s National Secretariat in Wuse 2 to the Federal High Court in Maitama, the demonstrators have pledged not to end their demonstration until Justice Lifu is removed from office.
Additionally, they stated categorically that “No ADC, no election.” and that ADC must be included on the ballot for the general elections in 2027.
When asked by reporters about the current administration’s efforts to establish a one-party state in Nigeria, ADC National Youth Leader Balarabe Rufai urged past presidents and heads of state, such as Olusegun Obasanjo, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, and Goodluck Jonathan, to stand firm.
Judges like Justice Lifu are bringing our judiciary into disrepute, and the ADC Youths Leader claims that this will cause the Nigerian people to lose faith in the system, which will lead to despair. This is our nation, and we, the youth of Nigeria, do not wish for anarchy here.
He demanded that the Attorney General of the Federation summon Justice Lifu to account. His removal is warranted. At this point, the public has lost faith in the political system and we are pleading with our nation’s leaders—particularly the few surviving past presidents and heads of state—to step in immediately. Honourable Justice Lifu’s ruling against the ADC is completely dishonourable, and we must prevent the inevitable turmoil that would ensue if people lose faith in the legal system, which is supposed to be our final resort.
Justice Lifu, according to the ADC chieftain, “brazenly proceeded with the judgement against the opposition ADC despite a binding Court of Appeal order that explicitly stayed proceedings on the matter,” “a move that subverts the sacred doctrine of stare decisis and constitutes gross misconduct.” A petition was subsequently written and submitted to the National Judicial Commission (NJC) against Lifu.
In response to a question about whether the NJC had taken any action on the petition, the ADC National Youth Leader stated that they would not be protesting if the NJC had removed Justice Lifu as a response.
Therefore, we have come to demand immediate action. Unfortunately, NJC has yet to respond. As young citizens of our country, we have physically gathered here because the judicial banditry that we are currently facing must end immediately.
“So, we are here demanding immediate action and the dismissal of Justice Lifu because individuals like that have no place in this system,” Rufai declared.