Political parties and politicians are anxious as election petition tribunals across Nigeria deliver inconsistent rulings.
The tribunals are expected to conclude most of their judgements by September 22 for National Assembly petitions and October 11 for governorship petitions, according to the 180-day timeline set by the Electoral Act.
So far, the elections of seven senators and 23 members of the House of Representatives have been nullified. Among these, three senators were removed entirely, while four will face supplementary elections.
In the House of Representatives, 18 members were ousted, and seven additional polls will be conducted.
The Supreme Court recently dismissed the All Progressives Congress (APC) appeal against Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State. This has added to the growing concern over the inconsistency in tribunal judgements.
Editorial
The current wave of inconsistent verdicts from election tribunals is a cause for concern and warrants immediate attention. It undermines the credibility of the electoral process and shakes public confidence in the judiciary.
The situation is particularly alarming given the upcoming deadlines for the tribunals to deliver their verdicts.
The inconsistency in rulings can be attributed to various factors, including invalid nominations, forged certificates, and falsification of results. These inconsistencies must be addressed to restore faith in the electoral and judicial systems.
The role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in this chaos cannot be overlooked. The body has been scrutinised for handling the elections, leading to numerous petitions.
INEC must immediately rectify these issues and ensure a more transparent and reliable electoral process.
Did You Know?
- Nigeria has a 180-day timeline for election petitions to be decided, as stipulated by the Electoral Act.
- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established in 1998 to oversee elections in Nigeria.
- The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are Nigeria’s two major political parties.
- The Nigerian judiciary has three primary levels: the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court.
- Election tribunals in Nigeria are special courts established to handle election-related disputes.
