Historical Context of Judicial Adjudication in Nigeria

Fola Aiyegbusi discusses the perception that judicial adjudication in electoral matters is a recent phenomenon in Nigeria. He references statements made by a former head of state who criticized the courts' role in elections, labeling their verdicts as “Cathedral judgements.” Aiyegbusi argues that this trend is not new, tracing back to the Second Republic in 1979 when the Supreme Court affirmed Alhaji Shehu Shagari's presidency.

He recalls the electoral landscape of that time, where Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) faced off against Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe of the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP), among others. Aiyegbusi notes that Awolowo challenged the election results despite not securing enough votes, highlighting the complexities of electoral law and the historical context of judicial involvement in Nigeria's political processes.