Nigeria’s Electoral System Needs Reform – ActionAid

A pressure group, ActionAid Nigeria, has called for far reaching reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system.

These reforms by the Technical Working Group (TWG) of ActionAid Nigeria, are part of activities of the Citizens’ Led Engagements on Judicial Accountability in Post-Election Justice Delivery in Nigeria, (CLEAP-Justice) project.

The reforms and advocacy policy by the TWG were presented to judiciary correspondents during an interactive meeting on Tuesday, on the first phase of its CLEAP-Justice project.

In her opening remarks, the coordinator of ActionAid CLEAP-Justice Project, Adesuwa Iluobe, who moderated the meeting, stated that the recommendations were made after appraisal and review of some of the contentious judgments at the various election petition tribunals.

Also speaking, Oyin Bamigbaye, of ActionAid Nigeria, explained that the meeting was part of activities for the ongoing CLEAP-Justice Project.

Oyin hinted that the CLEAP-Justice Project is a citizen-centered and citizen-driven intervention that is designed to contribute to promoting accountability in post-election justice delivery in Nigeria.

After a cursory evaluation of the conduct of the 2023 general elections and post election litigations, the group noticed the gaps within the Electoral Act 2023, which necessitated reforms and policy advocacy by ActionAid Nigeria.

In view of the foregoing, ActionAid Nigeria advocated that pre-election matters should be determined before the election, with most matters (except presidential and gubernatorial elections) ending at the Court of Appeal, adding that the change aligns with constitutional provisions.

The group recommended that the levels of redress for pre-election matters should be reviewed, stressing that House of Representatives, Senate, and gubernatorial elections should have two steps/levels ending at the Court of Appeal, while presidential pre-election matters should start and end at the Supreme Court.

In addition, the group recommended that the NJC be more proactive in disciplining judges who misuse ex parte orders and that such judges not be appointed to election tribunals.