Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal, has issued a directive centralizing all appeals arising from election petition cases across the country in the Abuja and Lagos divisions. This order pertains to gubernatorial, national, and state assemblies’ elections that took place between February and March 2023.
While appeals from 19 northern states will be handled by the Abuja division, cases from 17 southern states will be heard in Lagos. The decision to centralize the appeals in these two divisions comes in response to allegations and petitions against judges in state tribunals. Some political parties and candidates have raised concerns about the impartiality of judges, alleging compromise by governors.
The move to transfer appeals to Abuja and Lagos is aimed at ensuring the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the appellate court. The Court of Appeal President expressed the need for fewer divisions to handle all cases, enabling effective oversight and management.
The centralization of election appeals is expected to address concerns raised by aggrieved parties about potential biases in the state tribunals. The decision reflects a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that justice is served.
Despite the associated costs, parties and their counsels are reportedly complying with the directive, relocating their files to Abuja and Lagos as part of the centralized approach to handling election appeals.
