The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) has sounded an alarm over what it described as Nigeria’s gradual slide toward a one-party system, warning that the trend poses a grave danger to democracy and federalism.
BOSAN cautioned that with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) now controlling at least 26 of the country’s 36 states, the balance of political power has become dangerously tilted.
It said the weakening of opposition parties has placed an even greater burden on the judiciary to defend the constitution and the rule of law.
The body gave the warning during a speech delivered on Monday, December 15, at the ceremonial opening of the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Federal High Court and the 41st Annual Judges’ Conference in Abuja.
The address was presented on behalf of the group by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
“When there is no strong opposition, the judiciary must be strong. It must be adept. It must be innovative. It must defend the law and the constitution, and employ every inherent sanction of a court of law,” BOSAN stated.
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It called on judges to safeguard the independence of the judiciary by standing firm in the face of growing political domination.
“As I said before, it is midnight. It is you, judges, who will lead in this darkness. At such a time as this, you must be bold and courageous. You must be honest, you must be innovative,” the body said.
BOSAN further warned that Nigeria’s federal system was being weakened by what it called the “criminalisation of politics” and excessive influence of money, ethnicity, and violence in elections.
“Criminalisation of politics means that you are the hope of the nation,” the statement read. “If the checks and balances instituted by law have ceased to be effective… we need a judiciary that can assert itself. Do so now! Do not fear and do not be afraid.”
The group said corruption has become a national threat, insisting that only the judiciary can restore public confidence in democracy.
“The hope of the nation is in the judiciary to remove this cankerworm of corruption so that we can have a genuine democracy,” it declared.