With the commencement of hearing on the various suits challenging the outcome of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, The Electoral Hub has made a strong case for open and transparent judicial processes while also urging the judiciary to ensure electoral justice for Nigeria and Nigerians.

Recall that Presidential Election Petition Tribunal made up of five justices had on Monday began preliminary hearing on the petitions by four political parties including the People Democratic Party PDP, Labour Party LP, Action Alliance AA and Action Peoples Party APP challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress APC as winner by the Independent Electoral Commission INEC.

Though, the two other parties; AA and APP have withdran their petitions, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his PDP counterpart are asking the court to either declare them president or nullify the election and oorder a rerun.

In a statement signed by the Director, IRIAD-The Electoral Hub,Princess Hamman-Obels, the group observed that there was the need for the judiciary to comply with extant legislations guiding the process, and the need for an unbiased and open judiciary with a view to delivering justice to Nigeria and Nigerians.

According to her, in order to ensure that justice is not only done but also seen to have been done, theJudicial Panel should adhere strictly to the ethics of the Bench and legal profession, by acting in compliance with guiding principles of the Bench, display neutrality and uphold principles of the rule of law.

The group also insists that the panel must comply with legal frameworks guiding the election adjudication at all times as well as avoid all actions that may be perceived as unfair and biased, adding that justice should not only be done but also seen to be done.

It further admonishes the political parties and their candidates to avoid inciteful comments that could heat up the polity, ignite violence and threaten lives and property. They should also respect the laws guiding the processand ultimately be willing to accept the outcome of the process.

For the roles of the media and Civil Society Organisations, the group says: “The Civil Society Organisations should engage the judicial, political, and electoral stakeholders to ensure compliance with relevant legal frameworks. They should monitor the process to ensure fairness and openness through sustained advocacy or other best practices.

“They should also support the process with research and information about best practices, create awareness by dissemminating relevant information, curb misinformation and fakenews about the process through factchecking and sharing correct information.

“The media should monitor the process and provide accurate reportage of proceedings create awareness and educate the public ensure fairness and openness of the process through sustained media advocacy  collaborate with CSOs in curbing misinformation and fakenews about the process.”

The Electoral Hub also enjoined Nigerians to ensure they discharged their civic responsibility by closely following the process and engaging issues with patriotism, demand for accounatability and transparency from actors and institutions involved in the 2023 electoral judicial process while engaging stakeholders to ensure compliance with relevant legal frameworks as well as ensuring good conduct while excersing active citizenship as Nigerians.

The statement reads in part: “As the tribunal proceedings continue, the Electoral Hub urges the Judges to uphold values of neutrality and fairness. We also demand that the Election Tribunal process be made public to ensure transparency and openness as this would enhance fairness and credibility. We also urge the media, and other civil society actors to disseminate the right information by deploying fact-checking tools to prevent misinforming the general public.

“Ultimately, the Eleciton Petition Tribunal is not only important for its role in determining the final outcome of the 2023 general elections, but could also revive public trust in the Nigerian democracy.

in line with The Electoral Hub’s commitment to promoting electoral knowledge, accountability, and electoral integrity, we call on all stakeholders to discharge their duties conscientiously and conform with the rule of law. The Electoral Hub specifically calls on the judicial panelists, political parties and their candidates, civil society actors and organisations, and the general public to take steps towards ensuring the credibility of the election judicial process.”

The group had observed that successive elections in Nigeira over the years have been widely characterised by contestations and the effort towards their amicable resolution through the judiciary.

It cited events that trailed the outcome of the 2023 general elections held February 25 and March 18, 2023 across the country, especially several electoral disputes, which allude to these facts. The election, albeit lauded for attempts towards improving transparency, produced results that sparked contestations and grievances amongst contestants, citizens, civil society actors and other critical stakeholders in the country. In response, four (4) of the eighteen (18) political parties (and their candidates) that partook in the 2023 general presidential elections turned to the judiciary for resolution of disputes. The National Judicial Council (NJC) under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN Justice Olukayode Ariwoola had constituted a total of 257 Judges to hear petitions arising from the 2023 general election.