Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana has argued that Nigerian courts should not be in the business of deciding who wins elections, insisting that the responsibility belongs to voters at the ballot box.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Sunrise Daily, the senior advocate said the judiciary’s growing role in electoral disputes was eroding the choices made by citizens and needed to be reined in ahead of the 2027 polls.
Falana expressed doubt that the courts were adequately prepared for the wave of litigation likely to follow elections scheduled for early next year, describing the judiciary’s readiness as uncertain.
He stressed that judges should not rely on legal technicalities to overturn the clearly expressed will of the electorate, saying such rulings make a mockery of democracy.
Citing the recent governorship election in Osun State, Falana said that despite its shortcomings, the outcome should ideally be settled by voters rather than ending up in court. He also urged INEC and other stakeholders to ensure future elections are free of the irregularities that fuel legal battles.
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