Al-Hassan Umar, Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has called for stronger judicial capacity to address the complexities of electoral cases in Nigeria.
Speaking while representing the INEC chairman at an event where he delivered the keynote address, Umar highlighted the need for reforms in the judicial process to ensure credible electoral outcomes.
He said, “The complexity of electoral cases, particularly those involving political evidence, requires specialised knowledge and capacity within the judiciary. So, certainly in judicial processes, there is a serious need to enhance the capacity of judges, improving procedural efficiency and ensuring consistency in decisions.”
Umar further stressed the importance of public perception in judicial rulings, noting that legal correctness alone is not sufficient to sustain confidence in the system.
He added, “It is not enough that judicial decisions are legally sound. It must also be perceived as fair and transparent. Where both outcomes are seen as inconsistent or disconnected from the electoral process, public trust is eroded.”
On the role of technology, Umar pointed to innovations introduced by INEC to improve transparency and reduce electoral fraud.
According to him, “In Nigeria, innovations such as biometric voter registration and electoral transition reports, done by the bi-modal voter accreditation system, and the INEC has significantly enhanced transparency and reduced opportunities for fraud.”
He concluded by noting that these technological tools are strengthening the credibility of elections across the country.
“These tools are improving real time calculation and monitoring, thereby strengthening the credibility of the process,” he said.