'Nigeria's' Electoral Mess, Yaradua Retains Seat.

Without a doubt, the contradictions, election flaws and massive irregularities in last year's general elections in Nigeria has now reached alarming proportions. Never before in the country has there been such a confusion in the outcome of an election which has involved and implicated the electoral process and its body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headed by Professor Maurice Iwu.

In an expected ruling today, the Presidential Election Petition Appeal Court threw out petitions filed by Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party and Atiku Abubakar of Action Congress on the ground the petitioners lacked proof to show Umaru Yar'Adua did not win the presidential election of April 12, 2007. The decision was reached while President Yar'Adua is in China on an official visit to strenghten bilateral relations with China.

In another ruling, the court of appeal sitting in Jos upheld the nullification of Murtala Nyako as Adamawa State governor and ordered the sacked governor to vacate office immediately with fresh elections to be held within 90 days.

The judiaciary is beginning to make sense. It is, however, not surprising that an independent judiciary is beginning to make headway in the nation's democratic dispensation. Many Nigerians place their hope on independent judiciary and a change of the country's leadership starting from every aspect of government -- the executive, the legislator, the judiciary, which has begun to prevail in respecting and upholding the rule of law; and of course, the local government and or municipalities.

Hopefully, every election that has a question mark to it should be well scrutinized and if necessary probe its flaws which has been the major problem in the country's electoral process. The time is now and the judiciary must act fast in eradicating the mess that has destroyed the nation's electoral process over the years, especially in the Fourth Republic.