BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – The Coalition of more than 70 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the aegis of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has decried what it described as the unhealthy involvement of the courts in electoral litigation and dispute which it declared is capable of weakening the credibility of the electoral system in the country.
Convener of the CSOs Situation Room, Mr Clement Nwankwo, who made their position known at a Press conference in Abuja on Friday, while presenting the preliminary report of supplementary elections scheduled for Saturday across four states and FCT respectively, said the group would be observing elections to be conducted in the affected states and the FCT.
He said the States include Bauchi, Benue, Kano and Sokoto and some Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Nwankwo said; “Situation Room also expressed worried over the trend and its potential of impugning and damaging respect for the courts and justice system in Nigeria as well as derogating on the credibility of elections.’’
“The courts issue perplexing orders and injunctions that constrain INEC’s ability to fulfil its constitutional functions of conducting elections.”
The CSOs therefore called on courts in the country and the National Judicial Council (NJC), to act fast to stop the trend.
The Situation Room also expressed concern over what it notes as the emerging trend of escalating judicial involvement in what should ordinarily be matters outside the purview of the courts across the country.
Nwankwo called on INEC to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner and to ensure that its processes are respected and implemented.
Going forward, Situation Room said it expects that logistics for the elections are in place and the collation of results conducted in a transparent manner.
The CSOs called on security agencies invited by INEC to assist with the conduct of the elections to conduct themselves in a non-partisan and professional manner, stressing that Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, defines the role of security agencies in elections adding that it would be illegal for them to operate outside the roles defined for them by INEC.
Nwankwo said that owing to the close contest and high stakes in the supplementary elections, there is potential for serious local instability that might further and dramatically affect the already damaged credibility of Nigeria.
He called on political parties and candidates to take part in the elections devoid of violence, vote buying or other electoral malpractices just as he called on Nigerians in the affected areas where the supplementary elections would hold to come out and freely exercise their votes.
