Election Litigation
We have extensive experience in election administrative matters and have successfully litigated numerous election contests at all levels, including the Supreme Court of Nigeria. We have an excellent track record in representing clients at both the State and National levels.
Selected representative matters:
On behalf of a Member of the Nigerian House of Representatives, we obtained the reversal of an Election Tribunal’s decision to nullify our client’s election. The Court of Appeal agreed with our position that the petitioner failed to meet the evidentiary threshold at the Tribunal. Ben Roland Igbakpa v. Hon. John Agoda (Unreported). Judgment of the Court of Appeal in CA/B/EPT/DT/HR/6A/2019 (4 November 2019).
A State House of Assembly Member retained us to defend a challenge to his election on the ground of unlawful exclusion. After a full hearing, the Election Tribunal dismissed the petition. The Court of Appeal affirmed the Tribunal’s decision.
Dangana v. Usman (2013) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1349) 50 (Supreme Court) – affirming the Court of Appeal’s decision that a candidate’s qualification to contest an election can be the subject of proceedings either before or after the election in question.
In the petitions that ensued from the 2019 General Elections, we defeated four petitions challenging the respective elections of Members of a State legislature. The petitions alleged election malpractice, corrupt practices, and noncompliance with the Electoral Act. With our experienced team’s help, we debunked each allegation at the Election Tribunal, resulting in a dismissal of each proceeding. The Court of Appeal affirmed each dismissal in this regard.