Excessive election litigation weakening Nigeria’s democracy – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised caller concerns implicit Nigeria’s increasing civilization of post-election litigation, saying the expanding relation of the courts successful determining governmental outcomes is weakening the country’s antiauthoritarian process.

Jonathan, who spoke connected Tuesday astatine the 2026 Democracy Dialogue organised by his Foundation successful Bauchi, described Nigeria’s electoral quality strategy arsenic antithetic compared with different African democracies, wherever elections are mostly resolved done the ballot alternatively than prolonged tribunal battles.

“The Nigerian concern is highly antithetic from astir different African countries,” helium said.

“The benignant of predetermination litigation we acquisition present is uncommon. I tin picture the Nigerian concern arsenic a precise anomalous one.”

The erstwhile president recalled a speech with a erstwhile Deputy President of South Africa during his tenure arsenic vice president, saying she was amazed that Nigerian politicians routinely challenged predetermination results successful tribunal aft losing.

“She asked me, ‘Jonathan, wherefore would idiosyncratic spell to tribunal aft losing an election?’” helium said.

“In South Africa, radical bash not usually spell to court...