Abuja – July 28, 2025
The Nigeria Youth Organisation (NYO) has issued a resounding call to the nation’s judiciary, urging it to resist all forms of political manipulation and remain steadfast in defending democratic principles in the country.
Speaking during a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, Comrade Okorie C. Okorie, MNCRA, the National Executive President of NYO, delivered a strongly worded address emphasizing the critical role of the judiciary in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.
“Our democracy stands at a crossroads,” Okorie declared, “threatened not only by visible enemies but by insidious corruption and internal compromise within key institutions.” He warned that the judiciary must not allow itself to be weaponized against the opposition, which he described as “the lifeblood of any true democracy.”
According to him, any attempt to use the courts to silence dissent or suppress the voices of ordinary Nigerians amounts to “a direct assault on democracy itself.”
The NYO issued several demands during the press briefing:
• To the Judiciary: The organization called on judges and judicial officers to reject political influence and avoid becoming “pawns in political games.” Okorie insisted that judgments must never stifle civic freedom or damage public trust, adding that the judiciary must remain independent and deliver justice impartially, without fear or favor.
• To the Legal Profession: The NYO warned lawyers against manipulating legal processes or misleading courts, saying such actions undermine the rule of law and threaten Nigeria’s democratic future. The group urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to sanction erring members and to lead ethical reforms that will restore dignity to the legal profession.
• To the National Judicial Council (NJC): The youth body charged the NJC with the responsibility to swiftly and transparently discipline judicial officers found compromising democratic values. It called for stronger accountability mechanisms within the judiciary to ensure erring officials face consequences without delay.
Okorie stressed that the NYO will not remain passive in the face of judicial compromise and will actively protest and expose any individual, regardless of status, who undermines democratic governance.
“Democracy is not for the timid,” he said. “It demands courage—from judges, lawyers, regulatory bodies, and citizens alike.”
He concluded by calling on Nigerian youths and citizens at large to remain vigilant, active, and involved in democratic processes, stressing that the survival of the country’s democracy rests on a collective commitment to justice, transparency, and accountability.
“The NYO will not be silent while democracy is undermined and our voices are suppressed,” Okorie stated, reaffirming the organisation’s unwavering commitment to the Nigerian people and the democratic cause.
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