Shocking EU Warning: Nigerians Must Elect Leaders at the Ballot, Not in Court

Shocking EU Warning: Nigerians Must Elect Leaders at the Ballot, Not in Court

The European Union (EU) has sent a strong message to Nigerians: choose your leaders at the ballot box, not in courtrooms.

This warning comes as concern grows over what the EU describes as “contradictory decisions of courts” during Nigeria’s elections. The EU’s top representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, spoke through Ruben Alba, the acting Head of Cooperation, on Wednesday, April 9, in Abuja. He made this known during the public presentation of a report titled “From Ballot to the Courts: Analysis of Election Petition Litigation from Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections.” The report was prepared by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

Alba noted that the continued trend of electoral disputes weakens the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its ability to conduct elections effectively. He explained that repeated court cases have created confusion and even shaken public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.

He said, “Logistical problems aside, the credibility of elections depends on transparency, and that trust is hard to build when courts make conflicting decisions that delay the final results.”

He warned that these delays and contradictions can severely limit INEC’s regulatory power, especially when its decisions are constantly challenged and overturned. He added that many voters are starting to lose faith in the election process and instead look to the courts for the final say—something the EU says is dangerous for democracy.

“Democracy is not just about elections,” Alba stressed. “It depends heavily on a working judicial system. The courts must uphold their constitutional responsibilities and protect democratic values and the rule of law.”

Even though the EU praised some of the courts’ past rulings, noting they had improved Nigeria’s democracy, they still see serious flaws in the system.

Alba admitted the judiciary has made landmark decisions that shaped Nigeria’s political future in good ways. But he also pointed out that courtroom wins cannot replace real, fair elections where people freely vote and decide who leads them.

“There have been many groundbreaking decisions by Nigerian courts,” he said. “But too many of those rulings have come after flawed elections. That’s not sustainable.”

He pointed out that the judiciary has become the unofficial referee of Nigerian elections, and that shouldn’t be the case in a healthy democracy. Instead, he suggested, Nigeria must work harder to ensure that votes—not judges—determine winners.

Alba warned that relying on the courts to “fix” poor elections could eventually break the system altogether. The proper place for power to shift, he argued, is at the ballot box, not in legal chambers.

The report from PLAC, which was the focus of the event, outlined how many election results from 2023 were dragged into lengthy legal battles. These battles caused delays in governance, added confusion, and fueled public anger.

The EU delegation highlighted that an effective court system must be fast, efficient, and transparent. Citizens should feel justice is done and seen to be done.

Alba said, “Everyone has a role to play in making sure the courts work properly. But more importantly, we need to fix the elections themselves so that fewer cases even end up in court.”

He also added, “The judiciary’s job is important. But it’s not supposed to clean up after failed elections.”

The EU emphasized that an election system where the courts always have the last word is one in crisis. He called for deep reforms to return Nigeria to the tradition where votes count, and election results are clear and trusted by all.

To make democracy work, he added, Nigeria must rebuild public trust in elections and stop seeing the courts as the final decider. That means INEC must be strong, elections must be fair, and court rulings must stop being a substitute for what happens at polling units.