Election litigations are a regular feature of Nigeria’s electoral cycle. The Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) is the true arbiter in election infraction matters – established under Sections 239 and 285 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. EPTs remain the constitutional destination where aggrieved political parties or their candidates can seek appropriate redress in various circumstances allowed under the law to resolve disputes arising from the conduct of an election.

While legal redress is preferable to post-election conflict or violence, we have observed an increase in the number of petitions, making it increasingly difficult to separate electoral administration from adjudication at each election.

Given this, Kimpact Development Initiative, with the support of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), sought to observe the judiciary’s pivotal role in the Nigerian Election Dispute Resolution (EDR) process by monitoring the EPTs’ adherence to legal frameworks all the way to the Supreme Courts. This monitoring effort reflects KDI’s commitment to track and compile EDR process across the 36 states, building on the 2019 monitoring efforts. Furthermore, it will make recommendations for improving the electoral justice system, processes, and efficiency.