Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, has been accused by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of sowing discord among the PDP’s members with his remarks.
During a public event on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Ariwoola commented on the political activities of some PDP governors, which the PDP interpreted as encouraging division within the party, according to a statement released by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba.
The CJN’s behaviour, according to the party, is beneath his dignity as the head of the judicial branch of government.
“Our party is worried that such partisan comment by the CJN violates his oath of office as the head of the country’s judicial arm, which is expected to be impartial and non-partisan.
“Irrespective of the circumstance or situation, the CJN is expected to be circumspect at all times and avoid partisan actions and utterances that are likely to erode the institutional integrity of the judiciary and bring it to disrepute, especially as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections,” the party stated.