The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of systematically weakening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and pushing the country toward authoritarian rule.
In a strongly-worded statement released Sunday by National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA warned that Nigeria stands on the brink of “democratic annihilation” as both the judiciary and legislature have been rendered ineffective under the current administration.
The rights organization particularly criticized the state of judicial independence under Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, alleging that the country’s highest court has been compromised and can no longer deliver impartial justice in cases involving the president or his political associates.
“The Nigerian judiciary under the current CJN has been reduced to a timid, corrupt, and compromised shadow of itself, incapable of delivering justice in any matter that affects President Tinubu or his political cronies,” Onwubiko stated.
The association accused the National Judicial Council of becoming a “polluted sanctuary of inefficiency and poor governance standards,” claiming its leadership has aligned itself with the presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
HURIWA specifically highlighted what it described as the suspicious judicial success rate of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, alleging he has enjoyed an unprecedented series of court victories through “suspected insider compromises, unethical collusion, and abuse of judicial influence” across various court levels.
The group expressed particular concern over the Supreme Court’s handling of legal challenges to the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing the court’s refusal to schedule hearings as a “national embarrassment.” According to HURIWA, the governor eventually abandoned his legal challenge because he recognized the futility of seeking justice from courts already controlled by executive interests.
The rights organization also referenced several controversial judicial decisions since the 2023 elections, including the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal proceedings. Despite what petitioners claimed were glaring electoral irregularities, both the tribunal and Supreme Court upheld Tinubu’s victory, a decision HURIWA suggests was predetermined through “high-level compromises.”
“Since the 2023 elections, the Appeal Court and Supreme Court have been associated with a spate of alleged bribery-induced judgments in politically sensitive cases, especially those involving holders of executive offices. These are judicial robberies dressed in legal robes,” the association alleged.
The criticism extended to the legislative arm of government, with HURIWA accusing the 10th National Assembly of abandoning its constitutional oversight responsibilities in favor of servile loyalty to the presidency.
The group pointed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s public declaration that “I was not elected to fight Tinubu” as evidence of a legislature that has openly advertised its subservience to executive authority rather than maintaining its independence as a co-equal branch of government.
HURIWA’s statement represents one of the most comprehensive critiques of Nigeria’s democratic institutions under the current administration, raising concerns about the erosion of checks and balances that are fundamental to democratic governance.
The allegations come amid growing concerns from civil society organizations about the state of Nigeria’s democracy, with various groups questioning the independence of key institutions designed to provide accountability and oversight of executive power.
