Less than 10% of Election Appeals Succeed in Nigeria, Says KDI

Less than 10% of Election Appeals Succeed in Nigeria, Says KDI

…Calls for electoral reforms to ensure swift justice before swearing-in

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

Fewer than 10 per cent of election appeals filed by aggrieved candidates in Nigeria are successful, the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has revealed, describing the trend as a major weakness in the country’s electoral justice system.

Presenting the data at a strategic engagement with media executives and social media influencers on electoral reforms in Abuja on Friday, the Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, said the dismal success rate of post-election appeals highlights the urgent need for reforms that guarantee timely justice before elected officials are inaugurated.

According to Idowu, the inability of the courts to conclude electoral petitions before swearing-in ceremonies has consistently weakened public confidence in the process and created a culture of impunity among political actors.

“The success rate of election appeals in Nigeria remains below 10 per cent. This points to the gaps in the justice process and why electoral reforms must prioritise swift adjudication of petitions before inauguration,” Idowu stated.

He explained that the delay in resolving petitions, coupled with the high cost of litigation and weak enforcement of electoral laws, contributes to widespread voter apathy and the erosion of trust in democratic institutions.

Idowu maintained that the media must now take the lead in sustaining public pressure for credible electoral reforms, noting that civil society organisations have reached the limit of their advocacy on the issue.

“Civil society has reached the bus stop. The only institution that can make lawmakers act now is the media. Once you begin to amplify these issues, they will have no choice but to listen,” Idowu said.

He added that the National Assembly had already concluded its retreat on the proposed electoral amendment, making it critical for journalists to raise sustained public discourse around provisions that could strengthen the integrity of future elections.

“If the media stops talking about electoral reform, the conversation dies,” he warned. “You have the power to influence the tone of public debate and shape the legislative outcome.”

Idowu listed priority areas that KDI is advocating, including the establishment of an independent Electoral Offences Commission, clear provisions for electronic result transmission, improved internal party democracy, and stronger timelines for hearing and determining petitions before swearing-in.

In his remarks, the Interim Country Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Francis Madugu, commended KDI for leading the reform conversation and emphasised the critical role of the media in driving change through data-driven reporting.

“The media is the heartbeat of electoral reform. You can either sustain a bad system by ignoring it or change the narrative by exposing its failures,” Madugu said.

Both KDI and NDI reaffirmed their commitment to working with journalists and civic groups to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process, promote accountability, and restore citizens’ trust in democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.