Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized what he refers to as “cathedral judgements” delivered by Nigerian judges on electoral disputes, expressing his discontent with the power vested in a few judges to overturn decisions made by millions of voters during elections.
Obasanjo stressed that the authority concentrated in the hands of a small number of judges is unacceptable.
This critique from the former President appears to be in response to recent decisions by the Court of Appeal concerning electoral disputes arising from the 2023 elections in Nigeria.
Notably, the Court of Appeal ruled to sack three opposition governors—Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Abba Yusuf in Kano, and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
These verdicts have sparked reactions, with the judiciary receiving more criticism than commendation.
Speaking at a high-level consultation on Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa at the Green Resort Legacy in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo raised concerns about the concentration of power in the judiciary.
He argued that in any democratic system or form of government, the decisions of a few judges should not hold the authority to overturn the choices made by millions of voters.
Obasanjo stressed the unacceptability of a scenario where a handful of individuals, through their decisions, can nullify the will of the electorate, citing the recent example of millions of votes cast in an election being subject to the decisions of three or four judges.
The former President acknowledged the challenge of finding a solution to this issue but underscored the need to address it.
He questioned the feasibility of calling for a fresh election in such situations and pondered the implications for the legitimacy of the initial electoral process.
Source: Channels TV