Credible Elections in Nigeria: Egbon-Olu (SAN), Faults INEC
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a top lawyer, has urged for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be dismantled in order to ensure credible elections in Nigeria.
Adegboruwa expressed this in response to the tribunal decision that supported President Bola Tinubu’s victory on Wednesday.
The veteran lawyer stated that the tribunal’s decision did not surprise him or many others who have been following election problems in the country for some time.
“Today’s verdict should be a reason for sober reflection by all, especially for the parties in court, their lawyers and all lovers of democracy. The petitions could have been decided purely on points of law and within few days of the election,” Adegboruwa stated in a lengthy Facebook post.
“There can be no real victory in the resolution of the legal issues by the court when the fabric of our democratic engagements seem to have been hijacked and compromised. Part of the lesson in this process is for us to go back and review the electoral process and the litigations following it. INEC as it is presently constituted cannot birth any credible election in Nigeria.
“In all, may be there was too much expectation that the status quo will be upturned, whereas many of the principles of law canvased had long been settled by the apex court.
“While encouraging all parties to continue in towing the paths already defined by law for the ventilation of grievances, we owe Nigeria an urgent duty to dismantle INEC, urgently.”
He also said that the ruling by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) was not totally unexpected.
More Comments by Adegboruwa (SAN)
“The verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court was not totally unexpected, given the stark realities facing us as a nation and the state of the law.
“The principles of presumption of regularity of elections and that of substantial conformity make it extremely difficult to prosecute elections successfully.
“In this particular case, the burden placed upon the petitioners in order to upturn the election was practically insurmountable. To make matters worse, INEC practically fought the petitioners to a standstill, as if it was an interested party in the whole process.
“I honestly don’t think anyone expected a different verdict from what was delivered in Abuja today, particularly the lawyers. The tension was completely unnecessary.”
