Nigeria’s Political Stability Rests More on Courageous, Transparent Verdicts, Amupitan Tells Election Petition Judges.
According to Amupitan, while INEC is saddled with the responsibility of managing the ballot, deploying technology and safeguarding the voter franchise, the EPTs on the other hand stand as the ultimate guardians of democratic legitimacy.
Speaking at a three-day workshop for the EPT judges, Amupitan pointed out that when political contestations overflow from polling units into the courtroom, the judiciary provides the constitutional sanctuary where grievances are transformed into peace, unlawful shortcuts are corrected, and the sovereign choice of the electorate is vindicated under the rule of law.
“Let me emphasize, my Lords, that the stability of our electoral process, and as a matter of fact of Nigeria, is very, very important for the continent of Africa.
Because Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa, and so, so many countries look up to Nigeria for guidance. “I recall at a meeting of EMBs of Africa in Egypt, most people were wishing me well. And I remember all the EMBs’ heads from other African countries, two of them, for that matter, the EMB head of Kenya, said ‘we want you to succeed. Because whatever happens in Nigeria will happen in Kenya’.
MSEApp News is publishing an original rewrite of this tip for readers, based on reporting associated with THISDAY.