1 day Ago By Guardian Nigeria
Sir: The judiciary remains the last hope of Nigerians in restoring their confidence in the fragile electoral integrity in Nigeria. The controversies surrounding the Edo 2024 governorship election collation of results underscore a deepening crisis of trust in Nigeria’s electoral system and raise critical questions about the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). As the judiciary prepares to address these challenges, Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment.
The decisions made by the judiciary will either uphold the sanctity of democracy or further erode public confidence in the nation’s democratic institutions. The world is watching closely. Recently, the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the 2024 Annual Conference of Justices of the Appeal Court lamented growing negative perception of the judiciary, urging all stakeholders to stem the tide.
How did we get here and what do you think should be done to arrest this trend? The growing negative perception of the judiciary stems from allegations of corruption, delays in dispensing justice, conflicting judgments, and a seeming disconnect between judicial outcomes and societal expectations. Years of systemic neglect, a lack of transparency, and the failure of key stakeholders to enforce accountability within the judiciary have played significant roles. Additionally, unethical practices by a few judicial officers have cast a shadow over the entire institution, further eroding public confidence.
To reverse this trend, CJN said decisive steps must be taken. First, the judiciary must prioritise internal reforms, including strengthening disciplinary measures against erring judicial officers. Second, enhanced transparency and digitisation of court processes can restore faith in the system.
Third, fostering continuous legal education and promoting ethics among judges and lawyers will ensure higher standards of professionalism. Finally, collaborative engagement between the judiciary, civil society, and the public is essential to rebuild trust and reaffirm the judiciary’s role as the cornerstone of justice in Nigeria. Since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999, the Independent National Electoral Commission has struggled to conduct credible polls.
The electoral umpire has conducted seven general elections in 24 years and has also had many of those elections upturned by courts as a result of electoral malpractices which have strengthened electoral integrity in Nigeria. Within those years, a number of governors lost their seats after election petition tribunals and of course the Supreme Court nullified their elections. Consequently, the court has restored mandate of seven governors.
The list of governors who were the beneficiaries of this kind of court action are Rauf Aregbesola, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Adams Oshiomhole, Segun Mimiko, Bello Matawalle, Hope Uzodimma and others. Nigeria stands at a crossroads, where the future of its democracy depends on the ability of the judiciary and INEC to rise to the challenges posed by post-election justice. The recommendations from judicial correspondents reflect the urgent need for reforms that will strengthen both institutions and ensure that justice is accessible to all.
A reformed INEC, driven by transparency and accountability, will help reduce electoral disputes, and consequently, the burden on the judiciary. Ensuring that INEC operates without bias is vital to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic processes. Inwalomhe Donald wrote via [email protected].
