Dr. Sam Amadi, a renowned legal expert, delivered a scathing critique of the Nigerian judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the First Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) roundtable held on Thursday in Abuja.
Commending his fellow speaker Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Jibrin Samuel Okutepa for an insightful presentation, Amadi emphasized the importance of honesty over mere brilliance, stating, “Brilliance is cheap, but honesty is expensive.”
In his speech, Dr. Amadi emphasized that elections in Nigeria are won based on strategies such as bribery, commandeering the judiciary, and controlling security forces, rather than on policy and messaging as in other countries like the United States.
He specifically called out INEC for failing to adhere to the Electoral Act, which mandated electronic transmission of results. “I am ashamed that the court affirmed that I can just walk away from the law,” Dr. Amadi said, expressing his disappointment in the courts’ decisions.
Dr. Amadi also criticized the Nigerian electoral jurisprudence, arguing that citizens who voted should have the right to challenge the electoral process in court, not just the candidates. He stated that elections should be nullified if they are conducted contrary to the rules, regardless of whether the outcome would have been different.
Furthermore, Dr. Amadi highlighted the need for INEC to conduct administrative adjudication during the election process, ensuring due process and establishing the validity of results before they are announced.
In conclusion, Dr. Amadi placed the blame for election failures squarely on the judiciary and INEC, stating that they have abandoned their responsibilities and allowed politicians to operate without proper regulation. He called for a change in the system, urging the judiciary to prioritize public interest over the private interests of politicians.
The IPAC roundtable served as a platform for Dr. Amadi to voice his concerns and propose solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system. His insights have sparked a conversation about the need for reform and accountability in the country’s democratic processes.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer