By Abiola Olawale
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Judiciary to take decisive measures to reduce the high volume of post-election litigations in Nigeria.
The former president who was also Governor of Bayelsa State at a time stressed the importance of upholding the integrity of the INEC and judiciary as crucial steps in mitigating the numerous election-related court cases in the country.
Jonathan spoke during the inauguration of the State High Court edifice in Delta State yesterday. Former president Jonathan highlighted that the numerous court cases arising after each election raise concerns about the trustworthiness of the electoral processes.
According to him, about 50 per cent of Nigerian politicians seek legal recourse due to perceived injustices by the electoral commission, while the remaining 50 per cent pursue legal action in the expectation of swaying the judgment in their favour.
He added that the impact of these two scenarios on the increase in post-election court cases cannot be overstated.
Jonathan said: ”I just returned from South Africa on Monday, June 2, because I was there to observe their election that was held on Wednesday, May 29.
“One Nigeria journalist interviewed me and asked, What are the South Africans doing regarding their elections that we Nigerians can emulate or what Nigerians are doing that they can emulate?
“I told him that one key difference between South Africa and Nigeria is that if a South African loses an election, and he goes to court, it is very strange.
“But if a Nigerian loses the election and does not go to court. It is very strange.
“In Nigeria, my thinking is that 50 per cent of those who go to court, do so because they felt they were cheated by the electoral management system and were rigged out.
“So, assuming the elections are properly conducted, that set of people will not go to court.
“The next 50 per cent that goes to court are those who know they failed the select selection and feel they can use the judiciary to declare them winners.
“So, if the judiciary does not declare those who did not win elections winners, that remaining 50 per cent will also not go to court.
“So, if you lose the election, you just have to wait for the next election. You don’t need to go to court.
“And if you go to court in South Africa, the judiciary will not compromise. So nobody goes to court but I believe we will get there one day in Nigeria
” So, the judiciary should be very strong and do the right thing so that this avalanche of litigation after elections will stop in this country,” Jonathan said.
The former president also commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, for continuing and completing his predecessors initiated projects and programmes.
Jonathan said that it was good to give and equip the judiciary with the best edifice and to give them the needed comfort because Nigerians also expect the best from them.
“I am glad to join the governor to commission this major project, this is the third project I have commissioned in Delta.
“I commissioned the state government house when I was in office and the Federal High Court Complex, so governor, thank you for inviting me to be part of this unique ceremony,” he added.
