By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the National Assembly to overhaul Nigeria’s electoral litigation process by establishing a specialised constitutional court to handle election disputes.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the 70th birthday and book launch of Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East), Mr. Jonathan argued that a dedicated court would reduce the strain on the political system by resolving election-related cases in a single phase.

He criticised the current three-tier system for governorship disputes—moving from a tribunal to the Court of Appeal and finally to the Supreme Court—as ineffective and unnecessarily prolonged.

Recalling a landmark case from 2011, Jonathan highlighted how technicalities have historically undermined electoral justice. “I remember a particular case where someone lost an election as a governor because the law then stipulated the use of red ink to tick voters’ names,” he said.

“In an entire senatorial district, they were not provided with red pens and used available black or green pens. As a result, those votes were cancelled. The Appeal Court upheld this, even though the lower tribunal felt that a tick is a tick.”

While acknowledging that the National Assembly later amended the law to allow governorship cases to reach the Supreme Court—specifically to prevent such injustices—Jonathan noted that the amendment failed to address the length of the litigation process.

The former president urged Nigeria to draw lessons from Francophone African countries, which employ specialised constitutional courts for political matters. He proposed that if the Supreme Court must remain the final arbiter for governorship elections, the lower tribunal stage should be eliminated entirely.

“I believe the ideal thing to do, which I was considering when I was in office, was to make sure that it’s only one tribunal that listens to any litigation relating to politics. This is done, especially in the Francophone countries in Africa. They have constitutional courts. Anything about elections, only the constitutional courts take decisions,” Jonathan explained.

He also challenged the judiciary to exercise firmness in its rulings, drawing an analogy to football. “Politics is like soccer, and the judges are the referees. If the referee looks the other way, players will break legs or score with their hands,” he added.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its interpretation of a recent Court of Appeal statement, alleging that the commission has abandoned its neutrality by siding with the federal government.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, rejected INEC’s position, describing it as “contradictory and inconsistent with facts.” The party claimed that INEC was acting under pressure from a government it characterized as “jittery” due to the ADC’s growing momentum.

“We reject INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling,” the statement read. “We knew that INEC was being pressured by a government that has become jittery from the ADC’s rising momentum even in the face of its relentless assault on all opposition parties.”

The ADC accused the electoral commission of caving to political pressure, asserting that it has effectively chosen to align with the government against the Nigerian people. The party vowed to publicly clarify what it called the contradictions in INEC’s statement.

According to the release, the ADC is currently reviewing its legal and political options and will announce its next steps in the coming days. The party urged its members and the public to remain steadfast.

“We are currently reviewing our options, and we shall make these known soon. Meanwhile, we call on our members and all Nigerians to remain steadfast as they await further directives,” the statement concluded, adding the slogans: “Nigeria is rising. ADC is rising.”

Ambassador Abdulrahman Mai Nasara Salga, a prominent ADC leader from Dala, Kano, has welcomed the influx of influential politicians into the party, describing it as a sign of ADC’s growing acceptance.

Salga, who contested for the federal legislature in Dala during the 2023 general election, says the party’s progress is heartening, having worked tirelessly to promote ADC’s agenda and position it as a viable alternative for good governance.

He highlights the entry of Kwankwasiyya leader Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Deputy Governor Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam, and APC’s 2025 gubernatorial candidate Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, among others, as major boosts that are transforming ADC into a formidable opposition force.

Salga believes these developments signal a shift towards justice and better leadership in Kano and Nigeria. He urges party leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Kwankwaso, to unite for success in 2027.

The ADC leader pledges continued efforts to promote the party’s ideals, expressing optimism for a brighter future with these influential additions.