Judiciary and the Enthronements of Democratic Institution in Nigeria (1999-2017)
Abstract
An issue related to enthronement of democratic institution in Nigeria, has attracted judicial concern. Democratic institution has allegedly characterised by lots of irregularities; this ranges from rigging to non- compliance to the rules as contained in the Electoral Act. This has established a negative practice on democratic stability. This study specifically set out to evaluate the Judiciary and the enthronement of democratic institution in Nigeria between 1999 and 2017, with emphasis on the performance of Election Petitions Tribunals in democratic institution. The crux of this study reviewed the controversy that surrounding 1999-2017 democratic institution in Nigeria. The study adopted principle of separation of powers as instrument to managing abuse of power, to increasing public confidence and enthronement of democratic institution in Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive explanation that anchored on secondary sources of data. The paper find that injustice in the electoral process, is tool for a misplace principles of democracy, seemingly compromised electoral body and weak judicial system with dishonest, corrupt, and bias officials. This study recommended that victim of electoral fraud should be criminalise, independent judicial system should be encouraged and foster respect for rule of law.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
-- (1998). On democracy. New Haven: Yale University Press.
-- (2003). Professional challenges and practices in democratic set up. 16th Conference of the Institute of Certified Secretaries and Reporters, 14th November 2003, Ilorin.
-- (2009). From three to fifty: Some comments of the paradox of increasing number and diminishing relevance of political parties under Obasangu administration “1999-2007”. International Journal of Social Sciences, 1(2), 33-40.
-- (2010). A decade of democracy in Nigeria, 1999-2009: Issues, challenge and prospects of consolidation. Makurdi: Aboki Publisher.
-- (2010). Election petition and peaceful resolution of dispute in Nigeria: Prospects and challenge. International Conference of the Society for Peace Studies and Practices, Mina, Niger State.
Abdulahi, A. U. (2000). Understanding elections: A guide for students and election managers. Kaduna, Joyce Graphic Printers & Publishers co.
Akinboye, S. O. (2000). Nigeria’s 1999 multi-party elections: an interview of electoral Conduct results. In O. Lai & Anifowose (Eds.), Issue in Nigeria 1999 General Elections, pp.146-147
Akinola, O. (2006). The role of the judiciary in the electoral process in Nigeria. Lecture delivered at the INEC Conference held at Abeokuta may 9th.
Appadorai, A. (1978). Substance of politics. New York: Oxford University Press.
Attahiru, J., & Okechukwu, I. (2007). Conclusion: A trouble path to democratic consolidation. In J. Attahiru & I. Okechukwu (Eds.), Elections and the future of democracy in Nigeria. Abuja: Political Science Association of Nigeria.
Authman, V. (2004). The resolution of disputes related to election result. International Foundation for Electoral System Report February.
Babatunde, L. (2010). Abuse and misuse of judicial power are inimical to the development and growth of electoral laws. A Paper Presented at the National Symposium Organised by Mustapha Akanbi Foundation. Abuja July, 2010.
Baron, De Montesquieu (1748). Spirit of law. In S. E. Edeko, Fundamental issue in Nigeria constitutional law. Anointed Teas: Printing Press Benin City.
Bentham, J. (1823). An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation. London: Pickering in O. P. Gauba (2003) An introduction to Political Theory Fourth Edition: Macmillan India Ltd.
Chukwu. P. (Eds.) (2007). The 1999 constitution and independent national electoral commission: prospect for impartial supervision and conduct of election in Attahiru Jega. Elections and the Future of Democracy in Nigeria . Abuja: Political Science Association of Nigeria.
Dahl, R. A. (1987). Democracy and its critics. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Edeko, S. (2002). Fundamental issue in Nigeria constitution. Benin City: Anoited Tesa Printing Press.
Egbewole, W. O. (Eds.) (2007). Nigerian judiciary, globalisation and democracy. In Taiwo Kupolati Current, Issues in Nigerian Jurisprudence.
Egwemi, V. (2007). The People Democratic Party (PDP) and Emergence of a Dominant Party System in Nigeria. NASHER Journal, 5(2), 178-185.
Encyclopedia (2008). People and history. http://hospitalitynigeria.com/kogi:php retrieved 5th July, 2012.
Francis, H. M. (1959). Court delay: Some causes and remedies. Published Faculty of Law University of Chicago. (www.ask.com retrieved 25th July, 2018)
Gani, F. (2007). The Role of the Election Tribunal. GUARDIAN Nigeria Newspaper, May 2nd 2007.
Geertz, C. (1983). Local knowledge. London: Fontana Press.
International IDEA. (2010). Electoral Justice. The International IDEA Handbook.
Isa, Y. I., & Zakari, M. Y. (Eds.) (2008). The courts and the management of elections in Nigeria. In S. M. Omodia, Managing Elections in Nigeria (Vol.1): Keffi, Onaivi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.
Jenning, J. B. (1972). Evaluation of the Mahattan Criminal Courts Calendar Project (Phase 1). New York.
Mbachu, O. (Eds.). (2009). Democracy and national security. In O. Mbachu & C. M. Eze, Democracy and national security: Issues, challenge and prospects. Kaduna: Medusa Academic Publisher.
Natalaja, N. (2000). Tribute to Claude Ake: Democracy and development in African. Abuja: AFRIGOV.
Nathan, J. B. (1997). The rule of law in the Arab world. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Noel, M. P. (Eds.) (2005). Justice system. In B. I. Spector, Fighting corruption in developing countries: strategies and analysis. Bloomfield Kamarian Press Inc.
Nwoye, K. (2001). Corruption, leadership and the dialectics development. Enugu: Flight Publisher.
Nzongola, N. G. (2002). The democratic transition in Africa’s lesson learned. Lectured Delivered at the Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto.
Ogoloma, F. (2012). The theory of separation of powers in Nigeria: assessment. An international multidisciplinary Journal Ethiopia, 6(3).
Okoeka, O. (2007, Feb.). Nations, p.8.
Okoela (2007). In A. A. Ujo (2000), Understanding elections: A guide for students and election managers. Kaduna: Joyce Graphic Printers & Publishers co.
Omotola, J. S. (Eds.). (2010). Electoral Governance and the Democratisation Process in Nigeria under the Fourth Republic. In V.Egwemi (2010), A decade of democracy in Nigeria 1999-2009: Issues challenge and prospects of consolidation. Aboki Publishers, Makurdi.
Onika, B. (2007, Feb. 14). Role of judiciary in sustaining democracy. Daily Trust, p.38.
Popoola, O. (Eds.) (2007). Election petitions and challenges of speedy dispensation of justice in Nigeria. In T. Kupolati, Current Issues in Nigerian Jurisprudence.
Sagay, I. (2013). On judicial system. Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja Fri. Jan.11th 2013.
Schedler, A. (Eds.). Electoral authoritarianism: The dynamics of unfree competition. Boulder, Co: Lynne Rienner.
Shehu, A. T. (2012). Strengthening judicial intervention in electoral dispute in Nigeria. Africa Journal of Social Sciences, 2(2), 74-88.
Spector, B. I. (2005). Fighting corruption in developing countries: Strategies and analysis bloomfield. Kumarian Press Inc.
Susan, S. (1990). Resolve the remedial dilemma: Strategies of judicial intervention in prison. Columbia Journal of European Law, 13.
Todaro, M. J. (2008). Comparative politics: A global introduction, New York. McGraw-Hill companies Inc.
Uche, N. (Eds.) (2007). History of election in Attahiru Jega. Elections and the future of democracy in Nigeria . Abuja : Political Science Association of Nigeria
Uwais, M. L. (2006). The evolution of constitutionalism in Nigeria: The role of the supreme court under the 1979 and 1999 constitutions. Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Inaugural Distinguished Fellows’ Lecture.
Zeisel, H., et al. (1959). Delay in the Court. Westport: Published by Greenwood Press.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/10956
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2019 Canadian Social Science
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Reminder
- How to do online submission to another Journal?
- If you have already registered in Journal A, then how can you submit another article to Journal B? It takes two steps to make it happen:
1. Register yourself in Journal B as an Author
- Find the journal you want to submit to in CATEGORIES, click on “VIEW JOURNAL”, “Online Submissions”, “GO TO LOGIN” and “Edit My Profile”. Check “Author” on the “Edit Profile” page, then “Save”.
2. Submission
Online Submission: http://cscanada.org/index.php/css/submission/wizard
- Go to “User Home”, and click on “Author” under the name of Journal B. You may start a New Submission by clicking on “CLICK HERE”.
- We only use four mailboxes as follows to deal with issues about paper acceptance, payment and submission of electronic versions of our journals to databases: caooc@hotmail.com; office@cscanada.net; ccc@cscanada.net; ccc@cscanada.org
Articles published in Canadian Social Science are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY).
Canadian Social Science Editorial Office
Address: 1020 Bouvier Street, Suite 400, Quebec City, Quebec, G2K 0K9, Canada.
Telephone: 1-514-558 6138
Website: Http://www.cscanada.net; Http://www.cscanada.org
E-mail:caooc@hotmail.com; office@cscanada.net
Copyright © Canadian Academy of Oriental and Occidental Culture