- Governor Mutfwang and Femi Falana stress the importance of ensuring true election winners emerge before swearing-in
- Falana accuses some lawyers of undermining the electoral system, urging Nigerians to resist lawyers and judges determining election outcomes
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, alongside human rights activist Femi Falana and other prominent figures, emphasized the importance of ensuring that true election winners emerge before their swearing-in during the Haske Satumari Foundation annual colloquium in Abuja.
Governor Mutfwang voiced concern over the increasing number of court pronouncements on 2023 election petitions, asserting that allowing judges and lawyers to determine election outcomes undermines the significance of leadership.
Echoing similar sentiments, Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, accused some lawyers in Nigeria of deliberately undermining the electoral system. He stressed that Nigerians must resist the notion of lawyers and judges deciding the fate of elected representatives, emphasizing that the electorate should be the ultimate judge of election results.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by former Vice President Namadi Sambo, expressed hope that the insights from the colloquium would contribute to Nigeria’s development.
Adding an international perspective, Fabrice Rulinda, the Mayor of Entebbe in Uganda, highlighted the need for Africa to develop a democracy tailored to its unique context. He noted that even in the United States, not all citizens participate in electing the president, underscoring the diversity of democratic practices worldwide.
Discussion about this post