Jonathan Sparks Debate With Proposal For New Court To Handle Election Disputes

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the National Assembly to review Nigeria’s electoral dispute resolution system and consider the establishment of a Constitutional Court dedicated to handling election-related cases.

Jonathan made the proposal in Abuja on Wednesday during the 70th birthday celebration and book launch of Senator Gbenga Daniel.

He explained that creating a specialised court for electoral matters would help reduce the burden on Nigeria’s judicial system and streamline the resolution of election disputes.

The former president criticised the current three-tier system for governorship election petitions, which progresses from election tribunals to the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court, describing it as inefficient and time-consuming.

According to him, a single, specialised court would ensure faster and more effective handling of electoral cases.

Jonathan noted that while the Supreme Court currently serves as the final court for governorship election disputes, the process could be simplified by allowing cases to be handled at a single level.

He added that during his time in office, he had considered reforms that would limit political litigation to a single tribunal.

Recalling a past electoral dispute, Jonathan cited a 2011 case where a governorship candidate lost his mandate due to a technical issue involving the colour of ink used by voters. He explained that ballots cast with the wrong ink were invalidated, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal despite objections from the lower tribunal.

He noted that although the National Assembly later amended the law to allow such cases to reach the Supreme Court, the reforms did not fully resolve the issue of prolonged litigation.

Jonathan recommended that Nigeria adopt a system similar to that of several Francophone African countries, where constitutional courts are responsible for adjudicating electoral disputes.

He also urged the judiciary to remain firm and impartial in handling political cases, stressing that strong judicial decisions are essential for maintaining order in the political system.

Drawing an analogy, he said politics should be governed like a football match, with judges acting as referees to ensure fairness and prevent misconduct.

In addition to his remarks on electoral reforms, Jonathan praised Senator Gbenga Daniel, describing him as a thoughtful and disciplined leader with an engineering approach to governance.

He commended Daniel for documenting his life experiences in books, noting that such records help provide clarity and correct public misconceptions.

The event was attended by several prominent figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, traditional rulers, and other political leaders.