SCRUTINIZING THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS OF THE ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL: A CASE STUDY OF THE ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL SECRETARIAT

Abstract

The onerous and challenging tasks involved in dealing with election petition cases requires a very high standard of conduct in the discharge of duties especially from the Election Petition Tribunal Registry Staff (hereinafter referred to as the Election Petition Tribunal Secretariat). In this regard, staffs of the Election Petition Tribunal Secretariats are expected to possess a high level of integrity to do the job. This paper provides an insight into the standards of the discipline and etiquette expected of the staff manning the Election Petition Tribunals as well as the legal foundation for the establishment of Election Petition Tribunals in Nigeria. Furthermore, the paper adopts the doctrinal method of legal research in discussing the legal responsibilities thrust upon the shoulders of the Secretary of the Tribunal with the scope of discourse limited to election petition cases in Nigeria alone. The paper discusses the role of the Secretary of an election petition tribunal as well as the duties and responsibilities of the supporting staff of the tribunal. The paper offers recommendations as to avoidance of abuse of position and conflict of interest by both the staff and secretary of an election petition tribunal.