Election petition cases and the right to fair trial within a reasonable time in Nigeria

Abstract

Justice delayed, they say, is justice denied. Delay in the dispensation of electoral  disputes in Nigeria has become an albatross to the Nigerian nation. It has become a sour point in our electoral process. In this article, the writer meticulously looked at fair hearing in the determination of electoral disputes, and its application and problems created as a result of judgments of courts and sources of the problems. Positions on fair hearing in other jurisdictions were equally considered.

Key words: Election Petition, Right to Fair Trial, Reasonable Time, Nigeria