By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has hailed the emergence of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the party’s Northern leaders, describing him as a patriotic statesman whose integrity, experience, and loyalty to the PDP make him the right leader to steer the opposition party toward unity and national relevance.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, HURIWA said the choice of Turaki represents a ray of hope for the PDP at a time the party is struggling to rebuild itself and reclaim its place as a credible democratic alternative. The rights group said Turaki’s emergence demonstrates the readiness of credible members of the PDP to reclaim the moral high ground from opportunists and infiltrators bent on destabilising the opposition for selfish and partisan reasons.

The association expressed confidence that Turaki’s wealth of experience, deep knowledge of governance, and long-standing commitment to the PDP since the return of democracy in 1999 qualify him to lead the process of internal renewal within the party. HURIWA described him as a man of strong character and conviction who has consistently remained with the PDP through difficult times, even when many political opportunists defected for convenience. According to the association, Nigeria urgently needs a stable and visionary opposition led by people of character and credibility, and Turaki fits that description.

However, HURIWA raised strong concerns over what it described as a growing pattern of judicial interference in the internal affairs of political parties, particularly cases concerning the PDP, warning that the courts risk being used as instruments of political manipulation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and certain powerful actors within government. The association alleged that recent developments suggest that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in collusion with some compromised elements within the PDP, notably the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, are working covertly to weaken the PDP from within.

HURIWA stated that available intelligence and recent legal maneuvers indicate that the FCT Minister, despite claiming to remain a member of the PDP, has aligned his interests with those of the APC, allegedly acting as a conduit to destabilise the opposition and strengthen the ruling party’s bid to entrench a one-party state ahead of the 2027 elections. The association described the ongoing legal disputes involving the PDP’s internal leadership as part of a broader scheme to prevent the party from holding a successful national convention and reorganising its leadership structure.

The rights group warned that the Federal High Court must not allow itself to be used to frustrate the internal democratic processes of opposition parties, reminding the judiciary that the Supreme Court has previously held in several decisions that matters concerning the internal affairs of political parties are not justiciable and should be resolved within the party structures. HURIWA cautioned that any attempt by the courts to take sides in internal party contests would amount to judicial overreach and could further erode public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary.

The group also expressed alarm over what it termed “a disturbing pattern of executive interference in the judiciary,” pointing to the recent donation of housing units to judges by the FCT Minister as an unconstitutional act that raises questions about the independence of the courts. It argued that such gestures, coming from a sitting minister and a key political actor with several pending political interests, amount to inducement and could compromise the neutrality of the judicial arm.

HURIWA reiterated that the judiciary must maintain a sacred distance from political intrigues, insisting that any perception of bias or collusion between the courts and the executive arm would spell danger for Nigeria’s democracy. The association expressed concern that several political cases in recent times have fuelled public suspicions of manipulation, especially when outcomes consistently appear to favour the ruling party or its allies.

According to HURIWA, “The independence of the judiciary is under serious threat when senior members of the executive can openly gift houses or privileges to judges and still have pending interests in political litigations before those same courts. It becomes difficult for citizens to believe that justice will be served impartially. Nigeria cannot afford to slide into a one-party dictatorship through the backdoor of judicial compromise.”

The association accused the ruling APC of intensifying efforts to weaken opposition parties by coercing or enticing PDP leaders through threats of arrest or prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an institution HURIWA says is increasingly perceived as being used as a political tool. It urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from using state institutions to harass or poach members of opposition parties, warning that such practices endanger Nigeria’s democracy.

HURIWA also drew parallels with the current leadership crisis in the Labour Party, which it said has been prolonged because state institutions have refused to enforce clear judicial pronouncements on the matter. The association argued that the selective application of justice, depending on which party or individual benefits the ruling establishment, undermines the rule of law and reinforces public cynicism about Nigeria’s democratic process.

The rights group called on the judiciary to rise above political interference and reaffirm its constitutional role as an independent arbiter, not a political instrument. It urged the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court to safeguard their institutional integrity by resisting all attempts to be drawn into partisan schemes that could subvert democracy.

In conclusion, HURIWA restated its support for Tanimu Turaki’s emergence as a consensus candidate for the PDP chairmanship, describing him as a reform-minded leader who can rebuild the PDP into a credible, disciplined, and people-centred opposition capable of holding the government accountable. The association said Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when opposition parties are allowed to function freely, warning that the ongoing judicial and executive encroachment into party affairs could permanently damage the balance of democratic power if not urgently checked.