Citizens Gavel, a civic group, has urged the President of the Court of Appeal to ensure transparency in appointing judges for the election petition tribunals for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
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During a briefing in Abuja, Charles Akintola, Communications Associate of Citizens Gavel, highlighted the need for transparency amid concerns over potential electoral disputes and the necessity for impartial adjudication.
He called on the Court of Appeal President to establish and publicize clear criteria for appointing tribunal judges, prohibit conflicted appointments, and ensure the integrity of the selected judges.
The group also recommended that the Chief Justice of Nigeria establish a monitoring system to oversee the election petition tribunals, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Akintola said, “As we approach the upcoming governorship elections in Edo State on 21st September 2024 and Ondo State on 16th November 2024, we recognise the critical responsibility of the judiciary in upholding the integrity of the electoral process.
“We hereby call on the President of the Court of Appeal to take decisive action to ensure that the appointment of judges for the election petition tribunals for these governorship elections is conducted with utmost transparency and integrity.
“To achieve this, we urge the President of the Court of Appeal to: Establish and Publicize Structured Criteria – Develop and make public a structured set of criteria that will govern the appointment of election petition judges for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. This framework should aim to promote transparency and accountability in the judicial process.
“Additionally, we recommend that the criteria include provisions to: Prohibit Conflicted Appointments – Include specific provisions within the criteria that explicitly prohibit the appointment of judges who have any connection, however remote, with any of the candidates contesting for the governorship elections. This measure is crucial to maintaining the impartiality and fairness of the judiciary.
“Furthermore, the criteria must stipulate that all appointed judges are individuals of high integrity and are free from any corruption charges as well as ties to politicians/political parties. This will foster public confidence in the judicial system and the outcomes of the election petition tribunals.
“As the new Chief Justice of Nigeria takes the reins of leadership within the Nigerian judiciary, the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections present an opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to uphold a transparent process and significantly redeem the image of the judiciary.
“We recommend that the Chief Justice establish a monitoring system to oversee the election petition tribunals, ensuring that the processes are transparent and accountable. We believe these steps will strengthen the judiciary’s integrity and uphold democratic principles at this critical time.”
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