...Advocates one-stop tribunal for political cases
…Warns prolonged disputes threaten democracy
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the National Assembly to abolish Nigeria’s multi-layered electoral appeals system and replace it with a single-tier tribunal to fast-track the resolution of political disputes.
Jonathan made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during the 70th birthday and book launch of Senator Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun East, stressing that the current structure has become a major setback to electoral justice and democratic stability.
He criticised the existing three-stage process for governorship election petitions—moving from tribunals to the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court—describing it as time-consuming and burdensome on both the judiciary and the political system.
According to him, Nigeria should adopt a more efficient model by establishing a Constitutional Court dedicated to handling all election-related matters.
“A situation where cases go through multiple levels before a final decision is reached is not ideal. If the Supreme Court remains the final authority on governorship elections, then there is no need for cases to pass through several layers.
It should be a one-step process,” Jonathan said.
He added that a specialised court would not only speed up adjudication but also reduce political tension often associated with prolonged litigation.
Drawing from past experiences, Jonathan recalled a controversial 2011 governorship case in which a candidate lost victory over a technicality involving the colour of ink used by voters.
“I remember a case where votes were voided because voters used black or green pens instead of the prescribed red ink. Even though the tribunal held that a tick is a tick, the Appeal Court upheld the cancellation,” he said.
He noted that while the National Assembly later amended electoral laws to allow such cases to reach the Supreme Court, it failed to address delays inherent in the lengthy litigation process.
The former president urged Nigeria to emulate Francophone African countries where Constitutional Courts exclusively handle electoral disputes, ensuring quicker and more decisive outcomes.
“I believe the ideal thing is to have a single tribunal that listens to all political cases. In many Francophone countries, once the Constitutional Court decides, that is final,” he stated.
Jonathan also charged the judiciary to remain firm and impartial in its decisions, warning that any compromise could undermine the nation’s democracy.
“Politics is like football, and judges are referees. If referees fail to enforce the rules, players will take advantage—committing fouls or scoring with their hands,” he added.
Speaking on the celebrant, Jonathan described Daniel as a pragmatic and bridge-building leader, recalling his role as the South-West Zonal Coordinator during the 2015 presidential campaign.
He commended the former Ogun State governor for documenting his life experiences in books, noting that such efforts help to correct public misconceptions and preserve history.
The event was attended by President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, as well as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, traditional rulers and other political stakeholders.
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