Nigeria's Electoral System Needs Review - Onaiyekan

Posted by Thandiubani on Thu 04th May, 2023 - tori.ng

Onaiyekan made the call when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday morning.

The Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has called for electoral review.

He made the call on Thursday while reacting to the 2023 general elections.

This is as he faulted the process where some candidates are sworn in or in the process of being sworn in despite court cases and petitions challenging their victories during the election.

Onaiyekan made the call when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday morning.

He described the current situation where the victory of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, is being challenged in court as an “anomalous situation”.

He said, “There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it.

“I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court.

“I know it has happened with governors but the outcome has really not been the best of all cases. I think we need to review our election process, so we do have a winner who will be sworn in and whom everybody would rally around.

“It is a pity that it is taking longer for the court to come to its decision. My problem is that the whole system of our election must be properly reviewed so that it would be easier for winners to emerge according to the wishes of the people.

“It is not right to have a system that is constantly contested. We should find out why is every election being contested.”

Recall that the Presidential Election Petitions Court fixed Monday for the hearing of the petitions challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress standard bearer, Bola Tinubu, as the President-elect.

With this development, the expected legal battle by candidates disputing the outcome of the 2023 presidential poll will commence from May 8.