Jonathan Seeks Overhaul of Election Dispute System, Advocates Single-Phase Litigation

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the National Assembly to undertake a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s electoral litigation framework, urging the establishment of a specialised Constitutional Court to handle election-related disputes.

Jonathan made the appeal in Abuja during the 70th birthday celebration and book presentation of former Ogun State governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel.

He expressed concern that the current multi-layered process of resolving electoral disputes has become unnecessarily prolonged and inefficient, particularly in governorship elections which pass through election tribunals, the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court.

According to him, the introduction of a dedicated court to handle political and electoral matters would streamline adjudication, reduce delays, and ease pressure on the judiciary and the political system.

The former president recalled past experiences that exposed weaknesses in the electoral legal framework, citing instances where candidates lost elections on technical grounds rather than the substance of votes cast.

He referenced a case in which votes were invalidated due to the use of incorrect ink by electoral officials, despite voters having clearly indicated their choices. He noted that although subsequent legal amendments allowed such cases to reach the Supreme Court, the reforms did not sufficiently address the issue of prolonged litigation.

Jonathan further advised Nigeria to draw lessons from some Francophone African countries where Constitutional Courts are empowered to exclusively handle electoral disputes, thereby ensuring faster and more decisive resolutions.

He maintained that reforming the system would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy by promoting fairness, certainty and public confidence in electoral outcomes.