The Senate has approved amendments to the Electoral Act intended to expedite the resolution of pre-election disputes and eliminate forum shopping. The changes restrict where such cases can be filed, ensuring they are heard only in courts with appropriate jurisdiction. Under the new provision, Section 29A, pre-election cases for National Assembly, State House of Assembly, governorship, and deputy governorship positions must originate at the Federal High Court, with appeals going to the Court of Appeal. Disputes concerning presidential and vice-presidential elections will begin at the Court of Appeal and end at the Supreme Court, aligning with Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Senate Committee on Electoral Matters Chairman Simon Lalong, who spoke on the bill during plenary, stated the amendment aims to stop conflicting court rulings and reduce delays in election litigation. He said the reform would limit misuse of judicial processes and enhance public trust in the judiciary. Lalong added that faster dispute resolution would strengthen Nigeria's electoral system. The move follows growing concerns over prolonged election cases clogging the courts and undermining electoral outcomes.
Simon Lalong champions judicial efficiency in election disputes while presiding over a system where rulings on the same matter often emerge weeks apart from different courts. The amendment targets forum shopping, yet offers no mechanism to prevent litigants from exploiting overlapping jurisdictions under the current court structure. If courts remain slow in delivering judgments, shifting case origins to the Federal High Court may change little for candidates and voters awaiting timely outcomes.
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