NDC: How to Stop Judicial Misconduct – Atedo Peterside

By Henry Oduah

Investment banker and economist Atedo Peterside argues that judicial misconduct can be curbed not only by appealing decisions but also by enforcing disciplinary measures.

In an X post on Saturday, Peterside warned that depending solely on appellate courts to correct wrongs could incentivize judges to issue “procurable obnoxious judgments.”

He made the comment in response to Senator Sola Akinyede’s X post about a ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja that overturned a prior decision directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

The NDC has nominated former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as its vice‑presidential candidate to contest President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Akinyede, a former Ekiti South lawmaker, wrote: “Sad. Judicial systems are not sustained by the corrective powers of their appellate system, but by judicial decency & integrity. Until the CJN enforces these qualities, the Nigerian Judiciary will continue on its journey of self‑destruction, igniting the truncation of our democracy.”

Peterside praised Akinyede, saying: “Well said @SolaA63524. The cure for judicial rascality is disciplinary action. Glossing over misconduct while relying solely on appellate courts to overturn obnoxious judgments encourages more judges to pursue the lucrative business of issuing procurable obnoxious judgments.”

Justice Isah Dashen, who