Falana Advocates Against Court Involvement in Elections

Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), expressed that the recent Osun State governorship election should not be contested in court, as the electorate has already made their decision at the ballot box. During an interview on Arise Television’s Sunrise Daily, he argued that placing the judiciary in a position to determine election outcomes undermines the power of voters.

Falana highlighted the need for the judiciary to have a limited role in electoral matters, particularly when a clear winner emerges from a properly conducted election. He raised concerns about the judiciary's preparedness to handle potential disputes in upcoming elections, including the 2027 general elections.

Falana insisted that no court should overturn the popular choice of the electorate using technicalities and urged stakeholders, including INEC, to ensure elections are conducted properly. He concluded that reducing election-related cases in courts would begin with improving the quality of elections and called for the media and citizens to ensure only genuine results are announced.