Former President of Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami has said that corruption, disregard for due process, insensitivity and impunity allegedly on the part of government functionaries have considerably contributed in weakening Nigeria’s electoral process.
Justice Salami spoke while delivering a lecture titled, ‘2015 general elections and sustainable democracy: judicial challenges and public expectations.’ at the 2014 Justice M.M.A. Akanbi Faculty of Law annual public lecture at University of Ilorin.
“On their part, public officials have scant regard for the common good. All these have far reaching implications for good governance, accountability and sustainable development. In this context, the popular expectation is that the Independent National Electoral Commission should brace up for the challenges which the conduct of the 2015 elections will throw up,” Salami said.
He stated that the cost and dangers of enthroning true federalism via an enduring democracy remain enormous. “We agree with the contention that with the country’s complex ethnic makeup, and the now bitter relations between the major religious communities, Nigerians know that they live over a political sea of magma that could, at almost any time, erupt,” he said.
Salami said the courts, lawyers and very importantly, the law makers, must tackle the identified lapses in the country’s democracy and federalism, adding that rather than being passive, they must actively seek out ways to free and fair elections fundamental policies of the nation’s democratic experiment.
He stated that for Nigeria’s democracy to become well entrenched, the rule of law must form part of the ingredients of the country and government activities, stressing that this must include the observance of due process in the conduct of elections.
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