Renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has raised concerns over a perceived judicial trend where courts sanction voters for the mistakes of electoral officers, calling it dangerous. Falana highlighted recent Court of Appeal judgments that led to the removal of governors in Zamfara, Plateau, and Kano states, urging a review of these decisions. He emphasized the need for the Supreme Court to address controversies surrounding the non-stamping of ballot papers by INEC officials.
In response to the judicial setbacks, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to defend the judiciary’s integrity. The PDP specifically urged the CJN to establish a judicial inquest to investigate alleged claims by leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that they have influence within the judiciary, especially at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also weighed in on the matter, condemning what he described as the APC’s “snatch, grab, and run” agenda, which he deemed detrimental to democracy. Atiku expressed concern over a narrowing space for opposition engagement and called for a collective effort to rescue democracy from what he termed “buccaneering power grabbers.”
In response, the federal government criticized PDP and Atiku’s spokesman for impugning the judiciary’s integrity and dismissed allegations of partisanship in recent judicial decisions. The government asserted that such claims were unfair and could undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal filed by a PDP candidate against the election of an APC governor in Benue State, affirming the governor’s victory. The controversies surrounding recent election judgments have sparked calls for electoral reforms, with Falana advocating for the technologization of the electoral process to enhance credibility.
The unfolding events reflect a growing tension between political parties, the judiciary, and calls for reforms to safeguard the democratic process in Nigeria.
