A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and lead counsel to the Accord party, Musibau Adetunmbi, has cautioned the Federal Government against what he described as excessive desperation for political power, warning that disregard for the rule of law could threaten Nigeria’s democratic institutions and governance framework.
Adetunmbi made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, while discussing recent legal developments involving the Accord Party and other political parties facing deregistration challenges.
According to the senior lawyer, democratic stability can only be sustained when government actions are guided by the rule of law rather than political expediency.
“First and foremost, the current federal government should please not be too desperate about power. They should allow the rule of law to prevail,” he said.
His comments followed recent court proceedings involving the Accord Party, the African Democratic Congress and three other political parties.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had ordered their deregistration over alleged failure to satisfy constitutional requirements for political parties.
However, the Court of Appeal on Tuesday halted the implementation of the judgment by granting a stay of execution pending further proceedings.
Providing an update on the legal battle, Adetunmbi said the Accord Party had moved swiftly to challenge the ruling through lawful means and secured temporary relief from the appellate court.
“You could remember yesterday that I told you that the Accord Party would do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that we are able to defend our rights and right the wrong. By the special grace of Almighty Allah, we were in court yesterday. Arguments were taken for and against, and their lordships ruled that the enforcement of that judgment be stalled pending June 25. We are going back on June 25 to take the main appeal,” he stated.
The legal practitioner also addressed concerns over the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the matter, rejecting claims that the electoral body was taking sides.
According to him, INEC’s actions should be viewed as adherence to legal principles rather than support for any political party.
“I will not say INEC is throwing its weight behind our party. INEC is throwing its weight behind the justice of the matter. It’s not throwing its weight behind our party,” he said.
Adetunmbi stressed that the constitutional authority to deregister political parties rests with INEC, adding that ongoing litigation limits public commentary on certain aspects of the case.
On the broader state of the judiciary, the SAN maintained that Nigeria’s legal system remains largely functional despite isolated cases of misconduct.
He said the judiciary is populated by many upright and diligent judges across all levels of the court system, warning against using a few negative incidents to discredit the entire institution.
“In the judiciary, we have so many honest jurists at the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. But just like in every society, we have bad eggs,” he noted.
Adetunmbi further expressed concern over the growing volume of political cases before the courts, arguing that they are consuming valuable judicial resources that should also be available for criminal and civil matters affecting ordinary Nigerians.
He observed that many accused persons remain in detention while awaiting trial, partly because political disputes are often accorded priority in court schedules.
“Prisoners are there. People who are accused, either rightly or wrongly, are in detention or jail when their cases have not been concluded. The precious judicial time that should have been spent on their matters is being devoted to political cases,” he said.
The senior lawyer urged stakeholders to adopt a holistic approach to judicial reform and governance challenges to place the country on a stronger path.
Addressing concerns about judicial independence, Adetunmbi argued that allegations of inconsistency in court decisions should not automatically be interpreted as deliberate disobedience of superior courts.
“Most of those judges were accused of not following precedent, not that they deliberately disobeyed a direct court order,” he explained.
He also highlighted infrastructural shortcomings within the judiciary, lamenting the poor condition of some court facilities and the persistence of outdated administrative systems.
According to him, improving court infrastructure and operational efficiency would enhance the delivery of justice.
Adetunmbi, however, expressed confidence in the oversight role of the National Judicial Council, noting that the body has established mechanisms for monitoring judges and addressing complaints through petitions, reviews and disciplinary procedures.
“They have a number of judgments that they must turn in quarterly, and any petition that is submitted will be examined,” he said, adding that due process remains central to the council’s operations.
