Political economist and former presidential candidate, Pat Utomi, has blamed election-related judicial decisions for the declining public perception of Nigeria’s judiciary, saying rulings on electoral disputes have contributed significantly to the loss of confidence in the institution.

Utomi said the impact of such decisions was evident in the questions ordinary Nigerians were asking about the judiciary, particularly when court judgments produce electoral outcomes that appear inconsistent with the results initially announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking in a video, he described election rulings as a major source of the judiciary’s diminishing public standing.

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“Elections and rulings on matters of elections have been the biggest source of the diminishing of the judiciary in Nigeria,” he said.

Utomi recalled visiting a rural community where residents questioned the logic behind judicial decisions determining electoral outcomes.

He cited the 2020 Imo State governorship election, in which the Supreme Court overturned the declaration of Emeka Ihedioha as governor and declared Hope Uzodimma the winner.

According to Utomi, the judgment had become an example cited by citizens questioning the credibility of the judicial process.

“They say to you, this kind of judiciary we have, when you have election, and number four suddenly becomes the winner. Is there any logic in this, your judiciary functions?” he said, recounting the concerns expressed by the residents.

The Supreme Court delivered the judgment on January 14, 2020, declaring Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Imo State governorship election and removing Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from office.

The decision generated considerable debate about the role of the judiciary in resolving electoral disputes and its implications for public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

Utomi also questioned whether members of the legal profession were concerned about the effect of public perceptions on the dignity of the judiciary.

He challenged lawyers and judges to reflect on the declining respect for the profession and consider what could be done to restore public confidence in the courts.

“Is the legal profession, the bar, the bench, not concerned with the diminishing of… you know, used to be, somebody’s a lawyer in the nineteen fifties, people would say, ‘Wow, lawyer.’ But today people are saying judge,” he said.

He further questioned whether legal practitioners recognised the need to rebuild the judiciary’s reputation.

“Is there no professional sense of a need to reestablish dignity behind the bench?” Utomi asked.

His comments highlight concerns about the relationship between judicial decisions, electoral credibility and public trust in democratic institutions.

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, arguing that the North should respect an alleged power-sharing agreement between northern and southern political leaders.

Yusuf made the declaration at the unveiling of the Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A) National Headquarters in Abuja, where he pledged 100 per cent Northern support for Tinubu in the next presidential election.

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The governor cited an alleged agreement reached in 1999 under which the North and South would take turns to produce Nigeria’s president, with the North allowed to serve two consecutive terms.

He referenced the eight years served by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who governed Nigeria for two consecutive terms before Tinubu assumed office in 2023.

According to Yusuf, the North should respect the arrangement rather than seek to produce another presidential candidate in 2027.

“For me, and for every right-thinking Nigerian, especially for us here in the North, we don’t have any reason, we don’t have any cause to now contribute on that premise, even though not constitutionally,” he said.

“Common sense dictates that we have to respect this mutual agreement.”

Yusuf subsequently declared his support for Tinubu on behalf of the northern states and what he described as patriotic Northerners.

“I therefore, on behalf of all the northern states, on behalf of all Democrats, on behalf of all patriotic northern states, indigenous, we want to assure His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu of our full support one hundred percent,” the governor said.

He also urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to openly support the president and work together towards victory in the 2027 election.

“We have all agreed we are members of the APC, and therefore we must work together to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice president emerge victorious,” Yusuf said.

The governor further called on party members to extend similar support to members of the National Assembly, state governors and members of state assemblies.

He congratulated the organisers of the event and wished participants well.

Kenneth Okonkwo has declared that Nigeria is “doomed under Tinubu” while urging Nigerians to support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election.

Okonkwo made the remarks in a statement shared on X on Saturday, October 17, in which he criticised President Bola Tinubu’s performance, citing the proposed 12-state presidential campaign tour, the country’s corruption ranking and the Federal Government’s debt-servicing costs.

He described Tinubu’s planned campaign coverage as an “F” performance, noting that the President would campaign in only 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

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“This is about 30% coverage of the entire Nigeria. This is an ‘F’ performance by Tinubu,” he said.

Okonkwo also criticised Tinubu for allegedly failing to grant regular interviews to independent media organisations or participate in a national debate with opposition candidates.

He argued that the President had not adequately engaged Nigerians directly to explain his plans and policies, describing him as an “absentee President” and questioning his suitability for re-election.

The former spokesperson for the Labour Party presidential campaign also cited Nigeria’s position in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, stating that the country ranked 142nd out of 182 countries, with a score of 26 out of 100.

He described the ranking as another “F” performance under Tinubu’s administration.

On the economy, Okonkwo claimed that Nigeria was “technically bankrupt,” citing figures he said showed that the Federal Government spent ₦7.7 trillion on interest payments in the first half of 2026, compared with total revenue of ₦6.2 trillion.

According to him, interest payments exceeded government revenue by ₦1.5 trillion during the period.

Okonkwo further accused Tinubu of failing to achieve 30 per cent in his administration’s undertakings, describing the government as an “F” government.

He urged Nigerians to support Atiku in the 2027 presidential election, crediting the former vice president’s time in office with helping Nigeria exit its international debt through what he described as prudent management of national resources.

Okonkwo also defended Atiku’s position on fuel subsidies, arguing that the former vice president’s government had maintained fuel subsidies that made life more affordable for Nigerians.

He said Atiku had promised to restore a production-based petroleum subsidy to reduce the cost of refining fuel and make refined petroleum products more affordable.

The statement comes amid preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with political parties and opposition figures intensifying their criticism of the Tinubu administration.