Nigeria @ 66: Judiciary, Legislature Losing Public Confidence — Prof. Fage

Nigeria’s democratic institutions, including the judiciary and legislature, have faced growing scrutiny over their independence, accountability and ability to check executive power.

In the second part of an exclusive interview with Pinnacle Daily, Professor Kamilu Sani Fage, a Professor of Political Science at Bayero University, Kano, examines the judiciary and legislature, questioning their effectiveness as independent institutions under Nigeria’s democratic system.

He also speaks on the 2027 election campaign, the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the need for political parties to conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns.

Pinnacle Daily: The judiciary is often described as the last hope of the common man. Does it still live up to that responsibility in Nigeria?

Prof. Fage: Ideally, the judiciary is supposed to be the last hope of the common man. It is also supposed to be an independent arm of government and a major pillar of the democratic process.

But in the last few years, our judicial system has left a lot to be desired.

One major problem is pervasive corruption within the system, to the extent that people feel the law is being violated with impunity by those in high positions.

As a result, people are beginning to lose hope and confidence in the judiciary.

Secondly, the judiciary sometimes tarnishes its own image.

It is supposed to be an independent arm of government. When judges and lawyers stand up and cheer when the President appears before them, it raises questions about the perceived integrity and independence of the judiciary.

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You also have situations where courts of similar jurisdiction issue conflicting judgments on the same matter. One court says one thing while another says something different.

All these things damage the image of the judiciary and make people lose confidence in it.

Pinnacle Daily: What about the legislature? What was the intention behind creating it, and has it lived up to its constitutional responsibility?

Prof. Fage: The legislature is regarded as the centre of democracy because legislators represent the people.

Unfortunately, I think the current legislature is in an even worse position. It literally seems to be an extension of the executive.

Previous legislatures at least demonstrated some measure of integrity and independence on certain issues.

The last legislature, for instance, sometimes went beyond simply working in harmony with the executive and appeared to oppose the government on certain matters.

At least, that can go down in history as a period when the legislature demonstrated some firmness and independence.

But when you look at the current legislature, I think it will go down in our history as one of the worst assemblies we have had.

Look at the way budgets are approved and the way other matters are handled. The legislature appears eager to satisfy the aspirations of the executive.

In many cases, when the executive comes in, legislators stand up and cheer as though they are demonstrating their loyalty to the President.

There are many issues where the legislature should have exercised its constitutional oversight over the executive, but instead, it appears subservient to the executive.

Then you look at the wave of cross-carpeting involving legislators and state executives, with many moving towards one party and, in some cases, towards the President.

So, I think the 10th National Assembly can go down in history as one that openly appeared to be an extension of the executive, if not openly subservient to it.

Pinnacle Daily: INEC has opened the campaign ahead of 2027, but there appears to be limited physical campaigning. What is your reaction?

Prof. Fage: The issue is that INEC did not set the deadline arbitrarily. It is part of the electoral laws governing when political parties can formally begin campaigning.

The law provides for a campaign period of 150 days before the election, which is about five months.

So, the lack of visible campaign activity should not necessarily be interpreted as a lack of interest.

There are logistics and financial considerations, and political parties are understandably cautious about the cost of physical campaigns.

It is also not surprising that the ruling party appears more visible.

The ruling party controls the machinery of government and has greater access to resources. In reality, its campaign activities have been going on even before the official campaign period through billboards, publicity and other forms of political engagement.

But elections are not simply about vehicles making noise around towns. Campaigning also happens through other channels.

Pinnacle Daily: Some opposition figures argue that four months is enough to reach voters. Do you agree that the limited physical campaigns are a concern?

Prof. Fage: I think the parties are being cautious because of the logistics and cost involved.

Four months is not necessarily too short, but the parties have to consider the resources required to campaign across the country.

The ruling party has an advantage in terms of access to the machinery of government and resources, and that makes it easier for it to organise activities.

Opposition parties may therefore have to be more strategic in the way they reach voters.

Campaigning is not only about rallies and convoys. It also includes communication with voters, policy discussions, town-hall meetings, media engagements and other forms of political mobilisation.

What matters is that Nigerians should be able to understand what the parties are offering and how they intend to address the country’s problems.

Pinnacle Daily: What kind of campaign do you expect from political parties ahead of 2027?

Prof. Fage: What we hope is that the campaign should not become a do-or-die affair.

In many places, when people hear that politicians are coming to campaign, they become afraid because political campaigns have sometimes been associated with thuggery, vandalism and violence.

It is almost as if an occupation army is coming into the community, with thugs vandalising things and looting property.

I think politicians and political parties owe Nigeria a duty to organise peaceful campaigns.

The campaigns should also be issue-based rather than personalised.

We need to move away from campaigns centred on hate speech and personal attacks.

This is the difference Nigerians should expect to see this time.

Pinnacle Daily: What should political parties focus on as they seek voters in 2027?

Prof. Fage: They should focus on the real problems facing Nigerians.

They should tell Nigerians what they intend to do about insecurity, unemployment, poverty, education and the economy.

The campaign should not just be about personalities.

Nigerians should be able to hear concrete proposals from political parties and candidates about how they intend to address the challenges facing the country.

If campaigns are based on issues rather than personalities, Nigerians will have a better opportunity to assess what each candidate and party is offering.