Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that many politicians will not approach the court if the judiciary has been fair in election disputes.
Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration of a new high court complex in Asaba, Delta state, the former president said 50 per cent of those who go to challenge the outcome of elections in the court, do so because they feel the election was rigged.
“My thinking is that 50 per cent of those who go to court go to court because they felt they were cheated by the electoral management system; they were rigged out.
“When you feel naturally aggrieved, you have to go to court. So, assuming the elections are properly conducted, they know they failed the election, but they feel they can use the judiciary to declare them winners.
“If the judiciary doesn’t declare people who don’t win the election as winners, 50 per cent of politicians will not go to court”, Jonathan said.
According to him, “In South Africa, the electoral management body will never compromise, they all know.
“If you lose the election, you just wait for the next election. You don’t need to go to court.
“Because if you go to court, the judiciary too will not compromise. So you will not get anything.”
Jonathan commended the Delta for state government for its efforts in improving the working environment of judicial officers.
He also lauded Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, for the focus of his administration on infrastructural development and his commitment to completing projects initiated by previous governments.
Jonathan who noted that started in 1991, stressed that its completion is a proof of the government’s dedication to continuity and development.
According to him, there are some projects that are very fundamental to the growth and development of the state, urging that anybody who takes over government should endeavour to complete them.
