Courts should be the final arbiter in election disputes - Asiedu Nketiah

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), called on African judiciaries to take deliberate steps to build public confidence in their handling of electoral disputes while participating in a fireside chat at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, Nigeria. He made these comments in a series of posts on X. Mr. Asiedu Nketiah stated, "Our courts should be the final arbiter in election disputes. It is not usurping, but respecting the voice of the people."

The dialogue was held on the theme, "Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?" Mr. Asiedu Nketiah cited Kenya and Malawi as examples of countries where the judiciary played significant roles in resolving electoral disputes. He reflected on Ghana's experience, citing the 2012 presidential election petition brought by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Supreme Court, which was dismissed by a five-to-four majority decision. He said the judiciary could strengthen public confidence by being open to legitimate criticism, ensuring consistency in its decisions, and demonstrating fairness regardless of the political parties involved.