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Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian president-elect, is set to assume office as planned on May 29th of this month, notwithstanding the ongoing legal battles. The opposition parties are challenging the legitimacy of his election victory in the court.
Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian president-elect, is set to assume office as planned on May 29th of this month, notwithstanding the ongoing legal battles. The opposition parties are challenging the legitimacy of his election victory in the court.
The inauguration ceremony will proceed as scheduled, a government source revealed, despite the court cases, since there is no provision for an interim government in the constitution. The opposition parties have the right to challenge the presidential election in court. As reported by www.trendsnafrca.com, four presidential candidates filed legal challenges on 21 March against Tinubu’s victory. They alleged widespread rigging and manipulation of tallies.
Experts point out that the legal process is long drawn out. Rules stipulate that the petition should be heard within 180 days from the day it is filed and the judiciary may take eight months or so to determine a presidential election petition. A petitioner can appeal the tribunal’s judgment at the Court of Appeal within 21 days from the decision date. If aggrieved by the appellate court’s decision, the petitioner can approach the Supreme Court, further delaying the finality of the decision, experts point out.
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Political analysts point out that uncertainty cast by the legal process is inevitable. There are opinions that such delays may not augur well for democracy, where peoples’ mandate should be supreme.
