2023 elections and the place of the rule of law


By Bernadette Idalu
Just as Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on October 12, 2022, made an appeal to the political class to allow the judiciary function properly, in view of the 2023 general elections when he assumed office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), “Politicians should allow the judiciary to function. Law is not static and that’s why you have seen that the national assembly continues to amend the laws and it is the laws that the courts apply to the facts available. We shall continue to do justice, if only Nigerians will allow us to perform and function without any pressure,” a Benin based legal luminary, Ken Mozia, SAN, has also lent his voice to the democratic process. 

Mozia speaking on emanating issues concerning the 2023 general election process stated that as legal matters come up lawyers would do their best to address them in the interest of their clients.

He observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is making an effort to improve on it's services and mode of conducting elections.

He said, thus far, bulk of the disagreements in the political scene have been intra-party. This has led to a lot of pre-election matters which are intra-party issues.

He said that after elections, it is better to advise aggrieved parties to go to court than to resort to self help, which would reduce thuggery.

The SAN while counselling lawyers said, if approached as a lawyer and you find merit in their grievances, then, you have the obligation to so advise them but if otherwise, also advise them, as that is your duty as a lawyer. The rest should be left to the courts and tribunals to take care of. These relate the law to the facts of the case to come to a fair decision.

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