Politics
Election Litigations Straining Judiciary, Undermining Electoral Process – Senator Jibrin
Though the 2023 elections marked a significant improvement on previous polls, the spate of litigations emanating from the elections has strained the country’s judicial system and threatened to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
This was the submission of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, at the ongoing national conference of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) being held at the National Mosque, Abuja, with the theme, ‘Matters arising from 2023 elections and associated socio-economic challenges’.
According to the Deputy Senate President, “The 2023 general elections, by most accounts, marked a significant improvement over previous polls. In Nigeria, reports indicate that many Nigerians successfully cast their ballots to elect their leaders across the country.
“However, the elections were not without hitches. One major issue arising from the elections is the spate of litigations challenging the outcomes.
“The litigations significantly strain the judicial system and threaten to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.”
Jibrin, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Professor Bashir Mohammed Fagge, lamented the situation whereby the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) allocated part of its budget for legal matters, including the cost of election tribunals and resolution of electoral disputes.
Moving forward, he said the National Assembly would review the country’s electoral legal framework “with a view to limiting frivolous lawsuits.
“The 10th Senate will consider proposals to increase requirements for filing election petitions, impose punitive costs for unmeritorious cases, and expand the time limit for determining petitions, among others,” he assured.
He added that the reforms would aim at ensuring that only genuine grievances proceed to tribunals while maintaining access to justice.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Senate President informed that the 10th Senate was aware of the current economic and security challenges facing Nigerians.
“To address these socio-economic challenges, we hope to develop a detailed roadmap to ensure that the legislature supports, promotes and oversees the strategic objectives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-In-Chief, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. A major thematic area of our agenda is “Economic Growth and Development,” Senator Jibrin said.
He assured that the National Assembly would support government policies and programmes targeted at alleviating poverty, economic restructuring and general social sector reform and development.
The senate, according to him, would focus on budgetary measures to stimulate economic growth, providing oversight on security agencies as well as supporting anti-corruption efforts of the executive.
“Specifically, we will work to expand new policies on social investment programmes, boost infrastructure spending, support MSMEs through access to finance and incentivize investments in agriculture and manufacturing.
“Additionally, we will monitor the deployment of security resources to frontline states and ensure accountability in the procurement of armaments for our troops. We will also fully exercise our confirmation and oversight powers in the fight against corruption,” he added.
While saying the senate understands the depth of Nigerians’ expectations for solutions, the Deputy Senate President assured that the Red Chamber of the National Assembly would vigorously engage with the executive, private sector and civil society groups to deliver socio-economic reforms that restore stability and launch Nigeria towards sustainable development.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
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