My take on the Mimiko Verdict

While I rejoice with the majority of Nigerian progressives on this important victory, we must also insist on urgent electoral reforms that will forestall this kind of occurence in the future. Its been almost two years since the election was conducted and till date there are still pending litigations scattered across the nation. This is not healthy for the country, if it bears repeating, all electoral litigations ought to be dispensed with before a substantive public official is sworn into office.

This is not just plain common sense, it makes for good economics too. The current practice of unending litigation will continue to encourage corruption, a dearth of ideas from public officials who are embroiled in trying to keep their seats and the real victims are the Nigerian electorate who will have to suffer the consequences of elite conflicts.

As we celebrate yet another judicial victory and an affirmation of the independence of our courts, we must hasten to make sure that the Nigerian National Assembly pass the appropriate electoral laws, one that will save us from this non stop national embarrassment.

And of course, one that will deliver democracy dividends to the Nigerian people in a timely fashion.