By Gwurld4026 
Appeal Court to Settle Governorship Election Petitions
The Nigerian House of Representatives is advancing a bill to amend Section 246 of the 1999 Constitution, aiming to designate the Court of Appeal as the final authority for adjudicating governorship election petitions. Sponsored by Nnamdi Ezechi, representing Ndokwa East/Ndokwa West/Ukwuani federal constituency in Delta State, the bill has successfully passed its second reading.
Currently, Section 246 stipulates that the Court of Appeal’s decisions on national and state houses of assembly election petitions are conclusive. This proposed amendment seeks to extend that finality to governorship election disputes, thereby preventing such cases from escalating to the Supreme Court.
Proponents argue that this change would expedite the resolution of governorship election disputes, reducing the judicial burden on the Supreme Court and ensuring more timely conclusions. However, critics express concerns about limiting the appellate options for aggrieved parties and the potential implications for judicial oversight.
This bill is part of a broader legislative effort to reform Nigeria’s electoral and judicial processes, with several other constitutional amendment bills under consideration. The House has referred this bill, along with others, to the Committee on Constitution Review for further deliberation.
As the legislative process unfolds, stakeholders from various sectors are closely monitoring developments, recognizing the significant impact such amendments could have on Nigeria’s democratic and judicial systems.
For a detailed discussion on this legislative initiative, you may find the following video informative: