Yiaga Africa and the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum (NBA YLF) announce Expression of Interest for Election Law Clinic

Election Law Clinic
29 Jun
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Yiaga Africa and the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum (NBA YLF) announce Expression of Interest for Election Law Clinic

 

June 28, 2022

Press Release

As preparations for the 2023 General Elections begin in earnest, 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, which is a cohort of young lawyers who will provide pro bono legal services to young Nigerian adults participating in the electoral process , and other 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. 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, which is part of the ‘Turn Up Democracy’ project which is funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Yiaga Africa, 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.

 

Signed

Samson Itodo

Executive Director,

Yiaga Africa

 

Muntasir M. Adamu

Chairman 

Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum

Yiaga Africa is a non-profit civic hub of change makers committed to the promotion of democratic governance, human rights and civic engagement.

Contact info

  • ADDRESS
    3 Frantz Fanon Crescent, Gwarinpa, Abuja
  • EMAIL
    info@yiaga.org

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Yiaga Africa is a non-profit civic hub of change makers committed to the promotion of democratic governance, human rights and civic engagement. With its operational base in Abuja, Nigeria, Yiaga Africa focuses on in-depth research, providing critical analysis on key democratic and governance issues, crafting practical solutions, training and empowering citizens to lead change in their community. Yiaga Africa implements several innovative programs aimed at stimulating active citizenship, protecting human rights and deepening democratic governance. We invest in building networks and social movements to drive social change and transformation. Yiaga Africa has leadership structures and members in all 36 states and 774 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Nigeria.