2027 And The Imperatives Of Judicial And Electoral Reforms In Nigeria, By Onuorah Odo
Greetings, my fellow county men and women. For those of us of the christian faith, I wish all of us a stress-free Lenten season and to our Muslim brothers and sisters, accept my congratulations on your Ramadan Kareem celebrations.
Greetings, my fellow county men and women. For those of us of the christian faith, I wish all of us a stress-free Lenten season and to our Muslim brothers and sisters, accept my congratulations on your Ramadan Kareem celebrations.
Let me start by saying that the calls and agitations for judicial and electoral reforms in Nigeria have graduated to a point that is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria. Regrettably, the calls and cries have fallen on deaf ears. As it stands, the need for reforms in those critical areas can not be over-emphazised. It's needless to argue further the urgency and exigency of reforms in both sectors.
It's against this backdrop that lend my voice to the already vociferous public outcry for comprehensive judicial and electoral reforms.The need has become increasingly urgent, granted the changing dynamics of Nigeria's political landscape.
Nigerians are becoming more active and conscious in the political process, the proliferation of technology is transforming the way politics is played with social media platforms becoming critical channels for political mobilization and engagement.
Let me also point out, without equivocation that it's going to be an exercise in futility to go for another general elections in Nigeria without subjecting both sectors to clinical surgery.
The judiciary plays a critical role in ensuring the integrity of Nigeria's democratic process. However, the current state of the judiciary is nothing to write home about. In fact, it's safe to conclude that the judiciary is not only smelling, it's stinking.
I want to quickly posit that under-listed areas should be looked into in the judicial sector: independence of the judiciary, slow pace and delays in judicial proceedings, corruption in the secor and what have you.
It's believed that political gladiators who are better placed in terms of financial muscles influence judgements in their favour. The judiciary is often perceived as being susceptible to political interference. The integrity of the judiciary is almost always compromised thereby undermining its ability to deliver impartial justice. Another major problem bedeviling the judicial sector is that the proceedings and
processes are often slow and cumbersome, leading to delays and frustrations for litigants. Again, corruption in the system can not be ruled out. Corruption remains a significant challenge within the judiciary. This significantly and inexorably undermines public trust and confidence in the institution.
With respect to the electoral reforms, Nigeria's electoral process has continued to remain in a jam. The system is neck deep steeped in corruption to the extent that it's yearning for a serious overhaul. I want to propose that a committee be established to oversee the reform of the judiciary in order to ensure that workable action plans are are implemented.
And more importantly, the Electoral Act should be amended to address ambiguities and loopholes that can be exploited to manipulate the electoral process. Measures should be implemented to promote transparency and accountability in the electoral process including the use of technology to enhance the integrity of the process.
Nigeria's evolving political landscape demands urgent judicial and electoral reforms. By prioritizing these reforms, Nigeria can ensure that its democratic process is strengthened prior to the 2027 general elections and that the rule of law is given its rightful place. The time for action is now and there is no better time than now. Nigeria's future depends on it and our future lies in our own hands.
Barr Onuora Odo, a Social crusader, a Youth Empowerment Advocate and a Human Rights Advocate writes from Igogoro, Enugu Ezike in Enugu State.
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