2027: Elections must be decided at polls, not courts — Onaiyekan, Osigwe

At the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference held in Enugu, prominent figures called for electoral reforms to ensure Nigeria's elections are decided at the polls and not through prolonged court battles. Cardinal John Onaiyekan, former Nigerian Bar Association President Afam Osigwe, and others emphasized that the judiciary should adjudicate disputes, not determine election outcomes.

Onaiyekan proposed reforms such as special election tribunals, resolving cases before elected officials are sworn in, and greater voter involvement in electoral litigation. He also suggested that a presidential candidate must secure at least 50% of the votes cast to be declared the winner. Osigwe highlighted the high number of election petitions in Nigeria, attributing them to the frequent involvement of courts in determining election outcomes.

He criticized the current system where candidates can use state resources to defend their victories in court, arguing it violates natural justice principles. Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, highlighted the dangers of AI-generated misinformation, warning that it could lead to the fabrication of convincing content and undermine public trust in electoral institutions.

Eze Anaba, NGE President, called for protecting election credibility to prevent courts from replacing voters in determining the ruling party. Political economist Prof Patrick Utomi warned that weak electoral institutions could compromise public confidence and national stability. Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah urged journalists to bolster investigative reporting to combat AI-generated misinformation and establish facts.