Festus Keyamo Stresses the Importance of Judicial Determination in Election Irregularities.

GLatestSeptember 22, 2023

2 minutes read

Festus Keyamo, a prominent Nigerian lawyer and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, took to his verified Twitter account to share his thoughts on the interpretation of election irregularities. In his statement, Keyamo emphasized that labeling certain aspects of an election or electoral process as ‘flawed’ should not be equated with declaring the entire process a catastrophic failure. He highlighted that it is essential to differentiate between isolated irregularities and a complete breakdown of the electoral system.

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Keyamo asserted that complaints of irregularities are common in elections worldwide, and it is crucial to assess whether these irregularities significantly impacted the final outcome. Canceling an entire election process each time irregularities occur would be counterproductive, as it would lead to repeated elections without a clear winner. According to Keyamo, the judiciary plays a crucial role in conducting a forensic examination of the entire process to determine the extent to which irregularities influenced the final results. He emphasized that legal rules exist to facilitate this examination.

Regarding the recent European Union (EU) report on Nigerian elections, Keyamo dismissed the notion that the report could determine the winner or loser of an election. He argued that the EU report primarily focuses on identifying irregularities and making recommendations for future improvements. The power to legitimize or delegitimize a government, according to Keyamo, lies solely with the judiciary.

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Keyamo expressed his hope that those who are currently celebrating or criticizing the EU report will also have the same enthusiasm and acceptance when the properly constituted law courts deliver their forensic judgment on the 2023 elections. As a senior member of the Bar, Keyamo concluded his statement by stating that he will remain silent until the judiciary makes its decision.

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Keyamo’s comments highlight the significance of a comprehensive assessment of election irregularities by the judiciary and reiterate the need for distinguishing between isolated issues and systemic failures in electoral processes. They also underscore the limited role of external reports, such as the EU report, in determining the legitimacy of a government, which rests solely with the judiciary.