2027: Lawyer hails new electoral act, seek judicial reform
A renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Barrister Abiodun Olatunji has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2026. He stated that the Electoral
A renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Barrister Abiodun Olatunji has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2026.
He stated that the Electoral Act is very key and all encompassing, saying it has addressed flaws in previous Electoral Act.
Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan during Silver Knight 2026 Annual May Day Lecture, titled "Innovative Strategies for Improved Governance in Nigeria", Olatunji noted that with the enactment of the new act, Nigeria now have standard law that will help transmission of election results.
According to him, the new electoral act has erased all doubts and fears of Nigerians.
Olatunji, who called for reform of the judiciary alleged that the executives are the ones outstripping the judiciary to do their work.
He said, "There's so much of influence, so much of interference. You know, in this country, as of today, we don't have a full independent judiciary. No financial independence. The judiciaries have to go clamping hard before the executives to have their financial autonomy to be able to hold the body.
"So the executives use that opportunity to interfere in the affairs of the judiciary, which translates into the judgment that comes out of our courts.
"Once the appointment of the judges is taken out of the executive house, leaving it to a body that will be fully responsible for the appointment and discipline of the judiciary, then, I can assure you that we have a non-partisan judiciary. We have a non-partisan judge. We have collegiate judges on the bench, as of today.
"But when their career is going to be put to an end by politicians who are not doing their bidding, it's a sad situation for us in this country. And I'm certain that once the independence of the judiciary is encouraged and is in place.
"There is no justification for corruption. But we encourage the system, the institution, to encourage corruption. So I believe strongly that with an independent judiciary, the electorate has to be fully and accurately implemented and interpreted."
