Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has said the recently concluded Osun State governorship election should not be taken to court, arguing that the people have already chosen their leader through the ballot box.

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Falana, who spoke on Arise Television’s Sunrise Daily, criticized what he described as the excessive role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s electoral process. He argued that courts should not determine election winners where a properly conducted poll has produced a clear result, warning that allowing technicalities to overturn the popular choice of voters undermines democracy.

“We must stop the practice whereby the court determines the winners of the election in Nigeria,” Falana said, insisting that no court should hide behind technicalities to make a mockery of the people’s decision. He said the recent Osun election should serve as an example, stressing that the outcome should be respected because voters had exercised their democratic choice.

The legal practitioner urged INEC, the media and Nigerians to focus on ensuring credible elections and accurate declaration of results, rather than relying on the courts to resolve disputes after flawed polls. According to him, conducting good elections remains the best way to reduce election petitions and limit the judiciary’s involvement in the democratic process.

“We must start with the conduct of good elections so that our courts are limited in the democratic process,” Falana said.