 A'r Siwm Ysgoleth Ysgol. Y Chwylgrun All an fabulous is proposing for the final conclusion of all elections related matters or cases either in the repeal or supreme courts before a candidate takes oath of office. They say this will not only restore confidence in the electoral process but also build confidence in the judiciary and democracy in Nigeria. Plastifina Emanuel Ehegane completes the report. The 2023 general elections may have come and gone, but its outcome raised questions with aggrifth losers rushing to the courts to seek redress and to claim perceived stalling mandates. In its efforts to ensure that the process is not only transparent and fair, the Clean Foundation took a painstaking effort by deploying 38 observers to 18 states of the country, including the federal capital territory to observe proceedings. It also came up with its policy brief on the outcome of the 2023 election petition tribunal with some far-reaching recommendations for future elections. We are hoping that as we move into a next cycle of election, the judiciary will be there for the people. They will be able to be more assertive. But again, let me conclude by saying that beyond all the concern that people have, people equality think that the judiciary needs to be protected because we think there is an overbearing influence of politicians on them. You remember, we heard of a politician that said, we know whom we know and who you know and all of this language. We think we shouldn't have been in the first Easter. So these are the kind of signals that we're worried about and I'm happy that we hope that when we share this document and I know a number of civil society have done review of the local electoral circle that the government will listen to us and together will be partners in reviewing electoral process and making it more acceptable. Less persons will go to court because when you see people going to court is because people disagree. And virtually over 60% to 70% or 80% of members of the national assembly had one case, court case or the other. And so in several other states, so these are some of the concern that we hope this policy document will help address. We reported about 38 election petition observers across 18 states and just to let you know that we didn't cover all the states. And so to also let you know that our focus was more on presidential and gubernatorial cabinets or cases that were in court. Yes, there were instances where we also went a little bit outside this particular framework. So 18 states plus the FCT. One of the things that we did was to use a platform that were very easy for us to collect data and we call it the Clean Mobile App. It was on this platform that we scripted our questions and then of course the data collectors used this to transmit data to the central database that data collection has actually gone beyond the archaic or the very old fashion. And because we know too well that whatever information that we were going to have first from the field were going to basically influence policies and we use as tools for advocacy. So we were very much careful, one with the selection of those who went, two with our methodology and thoughtly the integrity of the document and the data. A major take home from the report is the call for an amendment to the electoral act 2022 by the national assembly to ensure that all these disputes before the court are concluded before the swearing in of candidates. The group also recommended judicial independence, especially in the area of funding and the appointment of judicial officers, which they say should be done by the national judicial council without interference by the executive. In order to even lessen the burden on the judiciary, the legislature needs to look at some aspects of the law and mitigate some of these problems. When an election is conducted before somebody is running, either as a governor or as a member of House of Reps, I mean National Assembly or State House of Assembly, even the presidents, they must finish with election matter. I don't know whether they have to shift the election process backward so that we look at about six month gap before the swearing. I don't know how it can be done, but we need to change that law because the truth is that somebody who is already being elected has, is going to have access to so many things. When they are going to court, you go with retinue of your hits, you go with your community, they don't want to leave the place, so there will be pressure whether we like it or not. But once you have not been sworn in, you are just like ordinary citizens like the other person and you are on a level playground. But there is an advantage after somebody might have been sworn in over the person who has been petitioned. And it's really weird now because you now have access to money, which the petitioner may not have. Don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.