Election disputes: INEC advocates ADR in place of litigation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
called for enhanced application of alternative dispute resolution
(ADR) mechanisms in the resolution of election
disputes.

INEC said its position was informed by its experience over the
years and the inadequacy of existing traditional administrative and
litigation methods of resolving election related disputes.

INEC’s Secretary Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, who identified the many
attributes of ADR, said it is cost effective and ensure prompt
dispute resolution.

Mrs. Ogakwu said available options for the resolution of
electoral disputes, which before now were limited to
“administrative solutions and litigation, were inadequate as the
underlying issues could not be handled through these rigid
processes”.

The INEC Secretary spoke in Abuja at a public lecture and mock
mediation session at the High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) at the instance of the Institute of Chartered
Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), Abuja branch.

She noted that most electoral disputes arise from the persistent
non-adherence to internal democracy by political parties and the
unwillingness of political players to play by the rules.

The INEC Secretary said her commission, having realised the
benefit of ADR, establish a unit for that purpose in 2009 “with a
mandate to propagate and implement the use of ADR in electoral
disputes, workplace conflicts and others.

“These extend to aspects of the electoral process in which there
is a need for quick intervention or decision that is acceptable to
the parties.”

Mrs. Ogakwu said INEC, having realised the many benefits of ADR,
including being cost effective and time-saving, the commission
intends to continue to employ it in its operations.

ICMC Chairman Abuja branch, Dr. N.T.H. Dindi said it was
imperative to propagate the need for enhanced deployment of ADR to
electoral disputes as the nation prepares for the next season of
general elections.

Dindi added: “We wish to lend our voice to the debate on how we
can use mediation as a peace-building mechanism to resolve
post-election disputes.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
called for enhanced application of alternative dispute resolution
(ADR) mechanisms in the resolution of election
disputes.

INEC said its position was informed by its experience over the
years and the inadequacy of existing traditional administrative and
litigation methods of resolving election related disputes.

INEC’s Secretary Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, who identified the many
attributes of ADR, said it is cost effective and ensure prompt
dispute resolution.

Mrs. Ogakwu said available options for the resolution of
electoral disputes, which before now were limited to
“administrative solutions and litigation, were inadequate as the
underlying issues could not be handled through these rigid
processes”.

The INEC Secretary spoke in Abuja at a public lecture and mock
mediation session at the High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) at the instance of the Institute of Chartered
Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), Abuja branch.

She noted that most electoral disputes arise from the persistent
non-adherence to internal democracy by political parties and the
unwillingness of political players to play by the rules.

The INEC Secretary said her commission, having realised the
benefit of ADR, establish a unit for that purpose in 2009 “with a
mandate to propagate and implement the use of ADR in electoral
disputes, workplace conflicts and others.

“These extend to aspects of the electoral process in which there
is a need for quick intervention or decision that is acceptable to
the parties.”

Mrs. Ogakwu said INEC, having realised the many benefits of ADR,
including being cost effective and time-saving, the commission
intends to continue to employ it in its operations.

ICMC Chairman Abuja branch, Dr. N.T.H. Dindi said it was
imperative to propagate the need for enhanced deployment of ADR to
electoral disputes as the nation prepares for the next season of
general elections.

Dindi added: “We wish to lend our voice to the debate on how we
can use mediation as a peace-building mechanism to resolve
post-election disputes.”