The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged politicians to adopt mediation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, rather than relying solely on courts to settle electoral and political disputes ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sulayma Ibrahim, director of litigation and prosecution at
INEC, made this call on Thursday at the ‘Mediation Without Borders’ summit
organised by the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) in
Abuja.
The programme brought together professionals and thought
leaders to engage in knowledge exchange and collaborative advancement in
mediation.
Ibrahim, who represented Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC
secretary, said electoral processes often generate disputes, including
allegations of fraud, procedural irregularities, perceived bias in electoral
management, and contested outcomes.
He warned that when poorly managed, such disputes could
escalate into political instability, violence, and “catastrophic crises”.
Ibrahim said mediation could serve as a critical instrument
for de-escalating electoral tensions could be more effective than courts and
electoral tribunals.
He said there has been an increasing reliance on ADR
methods, particularly mediation, in Nigeria.
According to him, INEC has documented over twenty mediation
cases through its ADR directorate.
Ibrahim said the directorate has now been structured as a
division under the litigation and prosecution department, and is performing
effectively in ensuring that dispute resolution matters brought before it are
handled in a timely manner.
“The legal framework of the electoral processes and dispute
resolution in Nigeria is anchored on the constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria,” he said.
”Parties can actually settle their dispute through mediation
and still achieve results rather than appearing or ventilating their grievances
at the election tribunals or in the conventional court.
“And one of those cases is the conflict between the Nigerian
Labour Congress (NLC) and the Labour Party (LP). The contest was about who
controlled the LP. This crisis generated
a lot of controversies.
“The commission, through the ADR mechanism, resolved the
dispute. And today, we can see that the NLC, the LP precisely, has come to stay
and become stronger in terms of administration.”
He also mentioned how mediation has resolved political
conflicts across Africa, referencing the 2007–2008 Kenya post-election crisis
which claimed over 1,000 lives and displaced many people.
“The intervention of former UN secretary general Kofi Annan
through mediation not only altered the carnage but also produced a
power-sharing framework under which Mwai Kibaki remained president and Raila
Odinga assumed the office of prime minister, thereby restoring constitutional
order,” Ibrahim added.
“This case exemplifies how mediation can serve as a critical
instrument for de-escalating electoral tensions, preserving democratic
institutions and ideals, and preventing human catastrophe.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com