From David Onuoja, Abuja
The House of Representatives is taking a renewable hope in the electoral system by amending Nigeria Constitution in order to ensure that all electoral disputes are resolved and settled before newly elected officials takes their oath of office.
This includes the President, Vice President, governors, and lawmakers.
The bill, introduced by Mansur Soro, a representative from Bauchi State, aimed to modify Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution.
It proposes that, all appeals from election tribunals be settled by appellate courts before the announced winners take oath of office.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), would also be required to adjust election timelines to allow litigation to conclude before handover ceremonies.
According to Soro, “unresolved election cases disrupt governance and waste public funds”
He pointed out that billions of naira used for legal battles could be better spent on public services.
Soro, also suggested that courts must prioritise election cases to meet the proposed deadlines.
The bill, introduced in October 2024, will likely be debated in this early 2025, where Lawmakers are expected to examine how it could improve the electoral process and reduce governance challenges in Nigeria.
