Politicians won’t approach court if judiciary is impartial – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that many politicians would refrain from approaching the court if the judiciary were impartial in election disputes.

He made these remarks on Tuesday in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, during the inauguration of the state’s new high court complex.

Jonathan explained, “I believe that 50 percent of those who go to court do so because they feel cheated by the electoral management system; they believe they were rigged out. When you feel aggrieved, you have to go to court. If elections are properly conducted and candidates know they lost fairly, they wouldn’t resort to the judiciary to declare them winners.”

He added, “If the judiciary doesn’t declare winners who didn’t legitimately win, then many of those 50 percent wouldn’t go to court. In South Africa, the electoral management body is known for its integrity. If you lose an election there, you simply wait for the next one because the judiciary also maintains its integrity, so there’s no point in going to court.”

Jonathan also praised the Delta State government for enhancing the working conditions of judicial officers and commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for focusing on infrastructural development and completing projects initiated by previous administrations.

He noted that the high court complex project, started in 1991, demonstrates the government’s commitment to continuity and development. “Certain projects are crucial for the growth and development of the state. We expect successive governments to continue them, and you are doing just that,” Jonathan said.

He also highlighted the governor’s integrity, citing an instance when Oborevwori, as the speaker, returned N500 million of unspent funds. “This certificate you’ve earned is more valuable than a PhD. It’s rare for a public officer to refund money to the government. Your action shows a high level of integrity and trustworthiness. Continue managing the state’s resources prudently to benefit the people.”