The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Supreme Court over its recent ruling which affirmed the President’s power to suspend elected governors and state assemblies during a state of emergency, saying that the judgment poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s federalism and democratic order.
The party recalled that the apex court held that once a state of emergency is declared, the President had the discretion to determine the measures required to restore peace and security, including taking “extraordinary measures.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the decision as one which effectively creates a “constitutional tyrant”, saying the judgment contradicts the constitutional principle that no arm or tier of government is superior to another.
The ADC also questioned the safeguards cited by the Supreme Court to prevent abuse of presidential powers, saying that recent developments have shown that neither the legislature nor the judiciary can be relied upon to halt Nigeria’s democratic decline.
