- Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin announces plans for the 10th National Assembly to review the Electoral Act, aiming to curb frivolous lawsuits
- Jibrin emphasizes reforms to increase petition filing requirements, impose costs for unmeritorious cases, and expand time limits for determining petitions
Senator Barau Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President, has announced plans for the 10th National Assembly to conduct a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act to curb frivolous lawsuits and streamline the judicial process.
Speaking at the national conference of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) on Tuesday, Jibrin emphasized the need for reforms to ensure that only genuine grievances proceed to tribunals, maintaining a balance between justice and accessibility.
Assuring the public of the Senate’s commitment to this cause, Jibrin outlined proposed changes, stating, “The 10th Senate will consider proposals to increase requirements for filing election petitions, impose punitive costs for unmeritorious cases, expand the time limit for determining petitions, among others.”
He expressed concern over the strain on the judicial system caused by frivolous litigation, highlighting its potential to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Policy and Monitoring, Professor Bashir Mohammed Fagge, Jibrin lamented the situation where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) allocates a portion of its budget for legal matters, including the costs associated with election tribunals and the resolution of electoral disputes. The proposed reforms aim to alleviate the burden on both the judiciary and electoral bodies, fostering a more efficient and credible electoral system.