ABSTRACT
The idea of aggrieved persons in an electoral process seeking redress in court as opposed to resorting to violence is a positive sign in Africa’s democratization process. However, electoral disputes are not resolved expeditiously by the courts. There is also the perception of judicial bias and political influence, leading to lack of confidence in the outcome of electoral adjudication. The large numbers of election petitions put a strain on the judiciary, clogging up the courts. It is imperative that voter education is intensified as to realistic expectations of elections by citizens so that only genuine cases go through adjudication. In addition, alternate electoral dispute resolution (AEDR), both formal and informal, should be explored for post-election dispute resolution to complement judicial adjudication.
