Afam Osigwe: Elections Must be Decided at the Polls
Immediate Past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN, has called for reforms to ensure that election outcomes are determined by voters at polling units, rather than prolonged
Afam Osigwe, SAN, Immediate Past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has urged electoral reforms to ensure that election results are decided by voters at polling stations, rather than prolonged court battles. Speaking at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu, Osigwe presented a paper titled “Election Petition in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS”.
He expressed concern over Nigeria's high number of election petitions and the increasing role of courts in determining electoral outcomes. Osigwe cited challenges in proving electoral malpractice and non-compliance with laws within the limited timeframe for petitions, which have led to a growing reliance on litigation. This phenomenon has been termed as the "judicialisation of the electoral process".
He questioned the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly the process for selecting its members, warning that doubts about the Commission's autonomy could erode public trust. Osigwe raised concerns about the evidentiary requirements for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), arguing that technological advancements should not complicate matters for petitioners trying to prove irregularities.
He also criticized the increasing tendency to take disputed elections to court, linking it to lower voter turnout, as citizens may doubt that their votes truly influence outcomes. Osigwe called on stakeholders to bolster electoral institutions and enhance the management of electronic evidence in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
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