Former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Chief Peter Ameh, on Saturday declared that Nigeria’s judiciary is in dire need of comprehensive reforms, warning that recent judicial decisions have exposed deep institutional flaws capable of undermining democracy and the rule of law.

Ameh, who is also Acting National Chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), made the assertion while reacting to the Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja affecting the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

He described the judgment as evidence of what he called a growing rot within the nation’s judicial system, arguing that it raises fundamental questions about the integrity, consistency and finality of judicial decisions.

According to him, “something is seriously and fundamentally wrong with the integrity of the court decision. This is no longer just about executive interference in judicial affairs but deep system rot within the judiciary itself.”

The former IPAC chairman argued that the judiciary requires what he termed surgical treatment to restore public confidence and preserve its constitutional role as the last hope of the common man.

He particularly faulted the court for entertaining an application filed by the Peace and Movement Party, which he claimed is not a legally registered political party, and accused the court of improperly reviewing its own earlier judgment several months after it had been delivered.

Ameh maintained that the court had become functus officio after delivering its original judgment and should not have revisited the substance of the case except under exceptional legal circumstances.

He also questioned why the matter was reopened after the Nigeria Democratic Congress had already conducted its primaries and produced candidates across the country.

Warning of the implications for Nigeria’s democracy, Ameh said the development threatens the certainty of judicial decisions and could weaken citizens’ confidence in democratic institutions.

He alleged that the ruling was part of wider efforts to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing it as “an assault on democracy” rather than a mere legal error.

The former presidential candidate called for urgent reforms to strengthen judicial independence, safeguard the finality of court judgments and protect Nigeria’s democratic process from undue interference.

He also disclosed plans by opposition groups to mobilise peaceful protests against what he described as judicial manipulation while pursuing legal remedies through the appellate courts.

At the time of filing this report, there was no immediate reaction from the Federal High Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), or other parties mentioned in Ameh’s statement.