A FORMER president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has said that electoral petitions can be resolved in seven days.
Speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, April 5, Agbakoba noted that judgment on the petitions would have a huge impact on the nation’s sanity if made within the stipulated time frame.
According to Agbakoba, “There is a context in which I recommended that we should finish the petitions as fast as possible, and I think seven days is a good time to go.
READ ALSO:
Minister blames cyber attack for INEC’s failure to upload election results
Elections: Nigeria more divided than Civil War era – Sanusi
2023 Presidential Election: Nigeria may never be the same again, says Nnamani
“The fact that the constitution prescribes the time limit doesn’t mean that that time limit must actually run, so the context of my call is that the policy is overheated.”
He noted that the political atmosphere in the country is already tense and solving the election petition matter can restore the normalcy in the country.
“”The other day, the minister of information was accusing Peter Obi of treason and all kinds of things were going around. There are a lot of things wanting to destabilize Nigeria—the DSS is shouting that there are people all over the place doing things. And the simple problem is just to resolve the election petitions,” he added.
Agbakoba emphasized that countries like Ghana and Kenya have advanced to the point that resolving election petitions is done within 30 days or less.
“How is it possible that Ghana finishes its own election petition in 30 days? Why can’t we do it here? Why must we have 360 days to do an election that is very simple?
“If I were the presiding judge of the tribunal, I would give the petitioner two hours to establish the case as to whether 25 per cent of the FCT is relevant in the consideration of who is President or not. I will give Tinubu time to reply, and I will deliver a ruling at 6:00 pm . What’s the difficulty? These are purely matters of law, so it is absolutely feasible.
“However, if those three questions don’t succeed, then part A of the petition we will now take up the issue of electoral malpractice, which I concede will be a lot longer.”
He questioned the integrity and competence of the system which stated that electoral issues could not be resolved before transitioning.
Stories with punches holding the powerful accountable. His determination to speak out against corruption and influence the conversation in Nigeria, the surrounding region and the continent inspires him.