Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the National Assembly to review Nigeria’s electoral litigation framework and establish a Constitutional Court to handle election-related disputes. The former president criticised the current three-tier litigation process for governorship elections, which moves from election tribunals to the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court, describing it as ineffective and prolonged. Reflecting on Nigeria’s electoral history, Jonathan recalled a 2011 case in which a governorship candidate lost an election due to a technicality involving the colour of ink used by voters. He suggested that Nigeria adopt a system similar to that of Francophone African countries, where Constitutional Courts exclusively handle political and electoral matters. They have constitutional courts, anything about elections, only the constitutional courts that take decisions,’’ he said.

Source: Punch April 02, 2026 16:19 UTC