A recent ruling by the Benue State Election Tribunal has caused public outrage. The Tribunal declared winners in several local government elections. However, some of the people declared as winners were not even on the ballot.
This decision has raised serious concerns about the fairness of the Nigerian judicial system.
Tribunal Favors People Who Did Not Contest
By law, local government elections in Nigeria are handled by State Independent Electoral Commissions. In Benue State, the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BISEC) is in charge.
Before the election, BISEC screened and cleared candidates. It then released the official list of names. Only these cleared candidates were allowed to take part in the election.
Despite this, the Tribunal ruled in favor of individuals from Kwande, Vandeikya, Konshisha, and Ushongo local governments who were not cleared, not listed, and did not contest. These individuals did not campaign, and voters never saw their names on the ballot.
This has led many people to ask, how can someone win an election they did not contest?
Inconsistent Rulings Raise Questions
The Tribunal also made confusing rulings. It upheld results in some local governments but overturned others, even though all elections were conducted by BISEC under the same rules and conditions.
This inconsistency has raised doubts about the Tribunal’s fairness and judgment.
One Political Party, Two Candidates, One Court Win?
The case of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made things even more confusing. In some areas, the APC fielded two different candidates, one backed by the Abuja faction of the party and the other by the Benue faction.
The Abuja group took the matter to court and, surprisingly, won the case against their own party. It is unusual for one political party to take itself to court and still win.
This situation has deepened public concerns about how political and legal processes are handled in Nigeria.
What Does This Mean for Democracy?
Many Nigerians believe that democracy depends on free and fair elections. If people who did not contest elections can be declared winners, then the votes of the people do not matter.
This ruling sends a dangerous message. It suggests that courtrooms, not voters, decide election outcomes. That is not how democracy should work.
The Need for Urgent Reform
Many groups and individuals are now calling for urgent action. They want the judiciary and electoral bodies to fix these problems. Restoring public trust is important. The right of citizens to choose their leaders must be protected.
For democracy to grow in Nigeria, the rule of law must be respected. Courts must not overrule the will of the people without a clear and legal reason.
