ADC Knocks APC For Celebrating Abuja Judges’ Housing Project

The African Democratic Congress has criticised the All Progressives Congress for celebrating the inauguration of residential quarters for judges, describing the action as unethical and capable of undermining public confidence in the independence of the judiciary.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said that while judges deserve decent accommodation, security and welfare, such provisions are constitutional obligations of government and should not be presented as favours from political office holders.

President Bola Tinubu on Monday unveiled the Court of Appeal Abuja Division Building Complex in Dakibiyu, Abuja, as part of his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s judiciary.

The building has two large courtrooms, eight smaller courtrooms, a library, 10 judges’ suites, three conference halls and administrative offices with ancillary facilities, among others.

“This is not just a building. This is a statement. A statement that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the rule of law will have a befitting home,” the President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said.

Earlier, APC, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, commended Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying the projects demonstrate the President’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and the minister’s effective leadership.

However, the opposition party argued that neither Tinubu nor Wike should receive personal acclaim for projects financed with public funds.

According to the ADC, the APC’s celebration of the project creates the impression that the welfare of judges depends on the goodwill of government officials rather than constitutional entitlements.

“What the APC has done, by awarding personal acclaim to both the President and his minister for building houses for judges, is to create the impression that the welfare of judges is subject to the whims and caprice of government officials or to executive benevolence,” the statement said.

The party maintained that in constitutional democracies founded on the principle of separation of powers, the judiciary must not be portrayed as benefiting from the generosity of political actors whose actions could eventually be subject to judicial scrutiny.

Abdullahi said it was particularly troubling that the ruling party sought to portray Tinubu and Wike as patrons of the judiciary, arguing that such actions blur the constitutional boundaries between the executive and judicial arms of government.

He further claimed that the development could reinforce public perceptions that the executive arm exerts undue influence over the judiciary.

“This action alone creates the unmistakable appearance that judicial welfare is dependent on executive benevolence rather than constitutional entitlement. It sends the wrong signal to Nigerians and inevitably raises legitimate concerns about the proper boundaries between the Executive and the Judiciary,” he said.

The ADC also faulted the APC’s characterisation of the housing project as a measure to strengthen judicial independence.

According to the party, judicial independence is determined by institutional autonomy, financial independence, security of tenure and freedom from political pressure, rather than the commissioning of infrastructure projects by political office holders.

The opposition party argued that public officials should exercise restraint in matters relating to the judiciary, especially at a time when courts continue to adjudicate election petitions, constitutional disputes and cases involving government officials.

It accused the APC of turning a public project into a partisan public relations exercise, thereby undermining public perception of judicial neutrality.

“The ADC therefore views this partisan fanfare as a shameless assault on the spirit of separation of powers and an affront to the constitutional ideal of an independent judiciary,” the statement added.

The party urged public institutions not to be transformed into instruments of political patronage or vehicles for cultivating judicial gratitude.

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