#NigeriaElections2023: Electoral Disputes Cannot Be Resolved With Extra Legal Means — Gbajabiamila

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has said that it will not be in the interest of the country for people to advocate or embrace extra-legal interventions to resolve electoral disputes and address grievances.

The Speaker said Nigerians must also avoid actions or utterances that tend to set the stage for interventions that could be fatal to the nation’s democracy and gains recorded in the last two decades.

Addressing members on the resumption of plenary after the National elections, Gbajabiamila said despite whatever disappointments people may feel, they should make sure the country survives and the imperfect democracy continues its match towards progress and a more perfect union

He said: “Elections in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-party democracy too often devolve into fault lines, generating abundant conflict and controversy. The test of an advanced democracy is the ability to manage grievances and settle disagreements without causing fatal damage to the body polity.

“The Constitution of our republic and the Electoral Act that governs elections in Nigeria both define a framework of post-election dispute resolution and adjudication. This framework exists to protect the integrity of our elections.

“It ensures that when elections fail to meet expectations, contested issues of facts and law can be resolved through a due process within a legal framework befitting a constitutional democracy. It is not in the interests of our country, now or ever, to advocate for or embrace extra-legal interventions to resolve electoral disputes and address grievances.

“We must avoid actions or utterances that set the stage for interventions that could be fatal to our democracy and the gains we have made over the last two decades.

“This is the time, despite whatever disappointments we may each feel, to reject considerations of partisan and other interests to come together and make sure first that our country survives and our imperfect democracy continues its march towards progress and a more perfect union.

“This is the time for political, social, religious and economic leaders across the nation to work steadfastly together towards the ends of law and due process. I am confident we will rise above the worst expectations others may have of us in this defining this moment.

“We will resist malign actors seeking to exploit this moment of tension for their own ends. We will defeat the cynicism of those waiting to see their worst predictions for our country become real. Nigeria will be at peace because we will work through the law and due process to resolve differences, settle disputes and ensure the peaceful transition of power.’’