INEC Registers 1,000 Pre-Election Lawsuits For The 2023 Poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) encountered over 1,000 pre-election legal disputes in the lead-up to the 2023 general election, according to Mrs…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Oluwatoyin Babalola, INEC’s Director of Legal Drafting and Clearance. She made this revelation during a presentation titled “Effects of Litigation on INEC’s Preparations for Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa Governorship Elections” at a two-day capacity workshop for journalists in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

Babalola explained that these pre-election litigations stemmed from issues related to political party primaries, candidate substitutions, and parties failing to adhere to their own internal constitution and election timetables.

Pre-election litigation refers to legal matters in which the cause of action arises before the actual election, as outlined in Section 285(14) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

She noted that a significant portion of these cases resulted from a lack of internal party democracy, where political parties did not adhere to their established rules and guidelines.

The unique nature of pre-election disputes, she emphasized, could not be overlooked, as their outcomes could significantly affect planning, logistics, funding, and the certainty of election participants.

Babalola pointed out that court judgments in these cases were sometimes delivered on the eve of the election, leading to situations where INEC was prevented from holding elections for specific positions or had to replace candidates after the printing of ballot papers.

“Moreover, pre-election matters can result in INEC being ordered to withdraw certificates of return previously issued to winning candidates and to issue new certificates to judgment creditors.

After the 2019 general elections, INEC was ordered to issue 94 certificates of return in pre-election matters. In the 2023 general election, seven certificates of return that had been previously issued were withdrawn and reissued based on court orders,” she added.