Yiaga Africa, NBA YLF Announce Expression of Interest for Election Law Clinic
- Organisations committed to free and fair elections ahead of the 2023 polls are making arrangements to ensure the exercise is hitch-free
- As preparations for the elections begin in earnest, Yiaga Africa has partnered with the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum
- The partnership is expected to among other things, train the next generation of lawyers who are interested in specializing in election law
FCT, Abuja - Yiaga Africa in conjunction with the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum (NBA-YLF) have announced a call for young lawyers who are interested in specializing in election law to express their interest to join the Election Law Clinic.
Legit.ng gathered that the clinic is a cohort of young lawyers who will provide pro bono legal services to young Nigerian adults participating in the electoral process.
Source: Twitter
The clinic will also offer the same services to young persons with disabilities who require pro bono legal advice as a way of supporting the electoral aspirations of young Nigerian candidates.
A total of 3,193 election petitions were filed in the general elections conducted between 2003 to 2015. In the 2019 general elections, 766 petitions were filed which brings the total number of petitions filed to date to 3,959.
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Section 133(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 clearly states that participation in an election is the condition precedent to presenting an election petition by candidates and political parties.
The Election Law Clinic is part of the ‘Turn Up Democracy’ project that is being funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Yiaga Africa.
It is designed to train the next generation of lawyers who are interested in specializing in election law, deepen the understanding of women and youth aspirants and candidates on the new electoral legal framework, and provide legal advisory services and support to young and women candidates.
The E-Law clinic is driven by a specially designed module informed by both the challenges identified by young men and women who contested in previous elections and the trends in election litigation.
Young lawyers who participate in the clinic will receive virtual and physical training on the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 using a carefully developed curriculum.
The clinic will also provide opportunities for young lawyers to attend national, regional, and state meetings that bring together lawyers, politicians, members of political parties, other stakeholders in the electoral sector, and development partners.
2023: GUTS unveils plan, takes sensitization to youths, others
Meanwhile, as Nigerians prepare for the 2023 polls, the Gina Unimke and Trisha Shine foundation, GUTS, has launched a massive plan ahead of the exercise.
In its unveiling statement issued on Thursday, May 5 in Abuja, the foundation stressed the importance of participatory democracy and a credible poll come 2023.
The statement signed by its media coordinator, Mr. Akuma Ukpo, said 2023 was critical for the future of the country and all stakeholders must be committed to ensuring that the future of the country is guaranteed.
2023: FCI to partner with other agencies to combat fake news
On its part, FactCheck Initiative (FCI) has created a team for a cause that will involve partnering with the government and other agencies in other to have free, fair, and peaceful elections in Nigeria void of any form of violence in 2023.
The main aim of this cause will be to spot, examine and respond to the impact caused by any misleading information ahead of the upcoming 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Adeoye Temitope, country director, FactCheck Initiative says stopping fake news and misinformation is the inspiration behind the project.
Source: Legit.ng
