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One-Party Dominance Threatens Federal System, SANs Warn
The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria has warned that Nigeria’s federal system is under serious threat due to the dominance of a single political party, stressing that the judiciary must remain strong where opposition is weak.
BOSAN said the current political landscape has weakened federalism and virtually eliminated effective opposition, thereby placing greater responsibility on the judiciary to protect the constitution and the rule of law.
The body made the remarks in a speech delivered at a special court session marking the ceremonial commencement of the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Federal High Court and the 41st Annual Judges’ Conference held in Abuja on Monday.
Currently, the All Progressives Congress controls at least 26 of the 36 states in the federation, with opposition parties decrying a tilt toward a one-party state.
In the address, read on its behalf by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), BOSAN declared: “When there is no strong opposition, the judiciary must be strong. It must be adept. It must be innovative. It must defend the law and the constitution, and employ every inherent sanction of a court of law.
“The framers of the Constitution would never have entrusted the judiciary with the custody and control of the Constitution, without at the same time, giving it the necessary jurisdictional power to protect it at the time of mindless corruption.
“As I said before, it is midnight. It is you, judges, who will lead in this darkness. At such a time as this, you must be bold and courageous. You must be honest, you must be innovative.”
BOSAN further cautioned against what it described as the criminalisation of politics, urging judges to rise to the challenge of safeguarding constitutionally guaranteed rights
It said: “Criminalisation of politics means that you are the hope of the nation. If the electoral process continues to be dominated by money, if violence and ethnicity continue to prevail, if the checks and balances instituted by law have been eliminated or have ceased to be effective, if all the structures for accountability provided in the constitution are surprisingly ignored, in that case, we need a judiciary that can assert itself.
“Do so now! Do not fear and do not be afraid. If this generation does not appreciate you, generations to come will do so. Generations to come shall look back and wonder how you were able to save a nation so totally lacking in moderation.
“It has been said that as long as the nation is rife with corruption, we should not consider ourselves a democracy.
“The hope of the nation is in the judiciary to remove this cankerworm of corruption so that we can have a genuine democracy. This means that judges must be enlightened. You must spiritualise yourselves. You must be holy.”
The body added that it depended not so much on the priests, pastors, and imams to have a godly society, stressing that the men of God had taught the lessons they ought to teach.
“It remains for you, judges, to punish disobedience. The appropriate use of punishment. You have the means to compel criminals to give up crime.
“That is why it is said that a nation is as good as its judiciary. It is for this reason that some people blame not the politicians, but our judges and magistrates,” the body said.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, acknowledged that public expectations of the judiciary had risen significantly in recent years, noting that scrutiny had intensified.
She stressed that the judiciary remained the last line of defence for the constitution and the rights it guaranteed.
“In an age where misinformation travels swiftly, and institutional trust is increasingly fragile, we must continually demonstrate, through both conduct and decisions, that justice in Nigeria is anchored firmly on impartiality, transparency, and integrity.
“The Judiciary does not speak through press statements or public commentary; our judgments constitute our voice, and the manner in which we discharge our duties defines the authority and credibility of that voice.
“Beyond the substance of our judgments, the public increasingly measures justice by the discipline of our daily processes.
“Punctuality in sitting, consistency in court schedules, and the courtesy of giving advance notice when a court will not sit are no longer minor administrative matters,” she said.
She emphasised that these expectations were essential expressions of respect for litigants, counsel, and citizens whose time, resources, and confidence are invested in the justice system.
She noted that it would be unrealistic to ignore the fact that public confidence in judicial institutions was fragile, and that perceptions, whether fair or otherwise, carried real consequences.
“Where court processes appear unpredictable, opaque, or inefficient, the credibility of even sound decisions may suffer.
“Restoring confidence is not achieved by rhetoric, but by reliability, professionalism, and visible order in the administration of justice.
“Judicial independence must therefore be upheld, not as an abstract ideal, but as a lived and daily discipline grounded in courage, restraint, and fidelity to the law.
“Independence is not an adornment of democracy; it is its lifeblood. Yet independence, standing alone, is insufficient unless exercised with responsibility and moral clarity,” she added.
She also said that the Bench and the Bar must remain partners in the administration of justice.
“A weak link on either side diminishes the system as a whole. I therefore urge members of the Bar to uphold the highest standards of advocacy, to eschew tactics that frustrate proceedings, and to work constructively with the courts in advancing efficiency, professionalism, and the Rule of Law,” Justice Kekere-Ekun said.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John T. Tsoho, disclosed that the court disposed of a total of 16,019 cases at the end of the 2023/2024 legal year.
He said 3,113 were civil cases, while 5,818 were criminal matters.
He added that 3,724 motions and 3,374 fundamental human rights cases were filed within the same period.
Justice Tsoho said the annual ceremony served as a reminder of the court’s collective responsibility to uphold the rule of law, administer justice fairly and impartially, and safeguard the rights of citizens.
He further disclosed that, in line with efforts to modernise the judiciary, the Federal High Court had commenced an e-filing system at its Lagos Division, with plans to extend it to all divisions nationwide.
“We are intensifying investment in infrastructural development such as construction of court buildings, judges’ quarters, renovation of courtrooms and staff quarters where needed.
“We also strive to provide essential technological equipment in our courts,” he said.
Justice Tsoho noted that the initiatives were aimed at enhancing service delivery despite limited resources.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), urged the judiciary to guard its independence jealously, noting that its authority rests on public confidence in its neutrality.
While commending the Federal High Court for its resilience and fidelity to the law, he called for continued courage, saying judicial decisions remained vital in shaping governance and ensuring national stability.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved the payment of a 13th-month pension bonus to all pensioners in the state, as well as a one-off welfare support of N10,000 in November 2026.
Speaking at the Ibom Hall grounds in Uyo on Friday, during the presentation of a merit award by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and an endorsement of his second-term bid, Eno said pensioners deserved to rest well after their meritorious service to the state.
Eno said he was particularly impressed by the pensioners’ sense of gratitude and assured them that the state government, under his leadership, would continue to prioritise the welfare of pensioners and elderly citizens.
He said, “This is indeed humbling to me. It shows that you are truly technocrats with a laudable sense of organisation. You may be retired but not tired. I celebrate and appreciate you greatly.
“I am now directing that N10,000 be added to the November 2026 pension payment of every pensioner in support of your welfare.”
He urged them to enrol in the state’s health insurance scheme, which he said was free for people aged 65 and above, to enable them to enjoy quality healthcare.
Eno recalled that he had promised to clear the backlog of gratuities, adding that N100bn had so far been paid from the accumulated N111bn owed since 2012. He assured the pensioners that the outstanding balance would be cleared before the end of his first term.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for making funds available to states, saying this had enabled him to fulfil his promise to clear the gratuity arrears.
Eno called on the pensioners to vote massively for Tinubu in the 2027 elections, saying this would ensure the continued availability of funds for the prompt payment of gratuities and pensions, as well as other welfare packages.
He also urged pensioners from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to vote for the re-election of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Responding, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Mazi Godwin Ikechukwu Abumisi, commended Eno for what he described as his compassion and care for pensioners in the state.
Abumisi also praised Eno’s leadership and development efforts and urged pensioners across the state to support his second-term bid in 2027.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Pastor Sylvester Nkodo, thanked Eno for his leadership, saying his commitment to the welfare of elderly people and retired public servants was heartwarming.
“Governor Umo Eno is a true leader with the heart for humanity who deserves prayers and support from the people. I urge pensioners to support his administration,” he said.
The National Assembly has confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, paving the way for the constitutional amendment bill to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
According to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the 28 approvals exceed the two-thirds majority required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which translates to 24 states. The National Assembly can therefore proceed with the next stage of the process towards presidential assent.
The bill was forwarded to the 36 state assemblies on September 16, 2026, for consideration, with October 15 initially set as the deadline for them to communicate their decisions. Ogunlana, however, said his office would continue to receive and verify reports from the assemblies ahead of the bill’s transmission to Tinubu.
The 28 states that have approved the proposed establishment of state police are listed below:
Adamawa
Delta
Edo
Kwara
Nasarawa
Ogun
Osun
Oyo
Plateau
Rivers
Taraba
Zamfara
Enugu
Anambra
Imo
Ekiti
Kebbi
Akwa Ibom
Bayelsa
Benue
Cross River
Abia
Yobe
Kaduna
Lagos
Kano
Sokoto
Ebonyi
A new political prediction has emerged ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with a state-by-state electoral map showing the states former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are projected to win.
The prediction, published by Statecraft, outlines the expected performance of the three major political figures across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the prediction, Tinubu is projected to win 15 states and the FCT, Atiku is expected to secure nine states, while Obi is tipped to emerge victorious in 12 states.
The map, which uses orange, blue and white colours to distinguish the three presidential contenders, provides a breakdown of the states each candidate is projected to win.
States Tinubu Is Projected to Win
According to the prediction, Tinubu is expected to win.
The FCT is also included in Tinubu’s projected victories.
States Atiku Abubakar Is Projected to Win
The former vice president is projected to win nine states.
States Peter Obi Is Projected to Win
Meanwhile, Obi is projected to secure 12 states.
The breakdown suggests a competitive presidential contest, with the three political figures projected to command support across different regions of the country.
Interestingly, the prediction places Tinubu ahead with 15 states and the FCT, followed by Obi with 12 states and Atiku with nine states.
However, it is important to note that the map represents Statecraft’s political prediction and not an official election result, an opinion poll or a declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The actual outcome of the 2027 presidential election will be determined by voters when Nigerians head to the polls.
The prediction has also raised questions about the possible political realignments, regional voting patterns and factors that could shape the contest in 2027.
JUST IN: Nigerian Gov Approves 13th-Month Bonus
Full List: 28 States That Approved State Police
