The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the increasing number of conflicting judgments from election tribunals and Appeal Courts across Nigeria.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu on Wednesday, made the expression at a National Conference on Election Petition Tribunals and Appeals organised by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The INEC Chairman said that there was a need for certainty in the rules governing the resolution of electoral disputes in order to stem the tide of avoidable and endless litigation arising from conflicting judgments.

Mr Yakubu said that judicial precedence was very important because “democracy goes beyond the conduct of elections.”

With a total of 749 appeals emanating from the decisions of the various Election Petition Tribunals, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, commended the judiciary for sustaining democracy.

On his part, the Country Director of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Shalva Kipshidze, promised continued support to the country’s electoral process.

The two-day conference, which attracted judges from across Nigeria, is aimed at stemming the tide of conflicting judgments in order to establish judicial precedence. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Prof. Yakubu.