Photo: The Supreme Court in session.
2023 Polls: Save Nigeria’s democracy from collapse, expert prays Supreme Court
Dr Maxwell Ugwuanyi, a public affairs analyst, has called on the Supreme Court to endeavour to save Nigeria’s democracy from collapse by being above board on the pending cases of about 13 state governors that are to be determined by it following the 2023 general elections.
Ugwuanyi, who made this known in an interview in Enugu, argued that the apex court must get it right without any compromise, as it was the last phase of governorship election petitions in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said: “There will be shockers in some states. Most governors sit on the edge because of the complexities of their cases.
“There will be cries and laughter for some people. It is only the governorship elections that span from the lower court through the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court.
“Governors that have bad cases know. Those that didn’t infringe on the provisions of the law will also provide their facts because law is not emotions.”
He noted that in the past, there have been cases where the Supreme Court provided surprises by either affirming the election of some governors or sacking them.
“It sacked Dr Chris Ngige as Anambra Governor in favour of Mr Peter Obi. Dr Andy Uba was also sacked for the same Obi.
“Gov Hope Uzodinma of Imo State lost at the tribunal, and Appeal Court but won at the Supreme Court.
“Former Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State also lost at the tribunal, Court of Appeals, but got his mandate at the apex court.
“Many incumbent governors are uncomfortable because of the uncertainties surrounding their victories. I urge the apex court to be seen to be just,” he said.
Ugwuanyi, however, said it was unfortunate that Nigeria’s democracy was being determined at courts instead of the electorate.
He said: “It is not a good advertisement for our democracy. Five or seven persons determining the fate of hundreds and thousands of voters through technicalities does not augur well for our democracy.
“It encourages some few to ambush the electoral system, and ask the defeated to go to court.
“Most infractions are not the making of the electorate. It is wrong to punish the electorate by actions of party officials or the Independent National Election Commission.”
According to him, such a scenario makes many not to have confidence in the electoral system, and shun voting because of court technicalities.
“The court should rather throw the power to determine the true winners back to the electorate.
“Asking the electorate to re-vote in disputed areas is better than empowering the judiciary to determine what they didn’t participate in.
“It makes the eventuality seem like it is a game of the highest bidders, especially when similar scenarios receive different judicial interpretations,” he said.
Ugwuanyi called for restructuring of the constitution to enable disputed governorship polls to be concluded before the swearing-in of winners.
“This will reduce distractions on sitting governors, and also not to give them undue advantages over their co-contestants,” he added.
