CROSS RIVER STATE, CALABAR – Nkoyo Esu Toyo, a lawyer, development activist and former Nigerian ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, says judicial decisions must not threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Speaking on Sparkling FM’s flagship programme Let’s Talk Nigeria, Toyo said it would be “irresponsible” for courts to deliver rulings capable of destabilizing a democratic nation.
The former lawmaker, who once represented Calabar/Odukpani Federal Constituency, argued that nations are not built on judicial pronouncements but on decisions rooted in overriding national interest.
Toyo, a co-founder of Gender and Development Action (GADA) and a global governance expert, warned that political parties rely excessively on court interventions rather than internal democratic mechanisms.
She cited cases where aggrieved members seek judicial orders to overturn internal decisions, saying such actions weaken party institutions and distort democratic norms.
According to her, leadership at all levels including the President, must remain firm, accountable and historically responsible when political crises test democratic values.
Toyo recalled how a party overcame internal disputes to convene a National Convention, stressing that history recognizes leaders who uphold institutional integrity during difficult moments.
She expressed concern over rising democratic instability in West Africa, linking it to the manipulation of judicial processes, institutional interference and tenure-extension tendencies by political elites.
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Toyo noted that such behaviours alienate citizens and may push them toward radical actions when legitimate channels of expression are obstructed.
She referenced a recent threat to kidnap wealthy individuals if the government fails to tackle kidnapping, describing it as a symptom of suppressed public frustration.
Toyo questioned the scope of judicial interference in party affairs, saying it would be surprising for any court to declare internal matters of political parties beyond judicial review.
She confirmed that her party leadership met the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, who assured them of security and unhindered access to their secretariat.
According to her, the party acted on intelligence of planned disruptions and sought police protection to prevent aggression or unlawful interference.
Toyo criticized the Nigerian police, alleging they are trained to defend individuals rather than state institutions, and questioned their neutrality in political disputes.
She said the police must protect citizens from aggression rather than assist aggressors or facilitate internal sabotage in party conflicts.
Describing the incident at the secretariat, Toyo called it an “aggression” led by an expelled member claiming to hold a meeting on party property.
She maintained that the individual had no membership rights and had trespassed while attempting to impose an illegal gathering.
Toyo said the National Convention remains the party’s highest decision-making body and has legally produced the current National Working Committee.
She added that officials serve four-year tenures, meaning anyone with an expired mandate or expulsion cannot lawfully claim membership.
Toyo accused the police of taking sides, alleging they backed a “corrupt war” by the “Wike-controlled faction” against legitimate party leaders.
She said the lawful committee members eventually regained control of the secretariat, adding that the expelled faction had been “sent to where they belong.”