In this post, Ozioma Nwadike Esq. reflects on the state of the Nigerian electoral system in light of the anti-reform judicial stance exhibited by the Supreme Court. With reference to some of the Court's recent judgments, Nwadike argues that the progressive steps taken by the legislature to reform the system have been undermined by the Court through its reliance on arcane legal formalism. The implication is that little progress has been made in electoral system reforms since 2007.

In this post, Lauren Loxton provides an analysis of the Constitutional Court's recent judgment in Electoral Commission of South Africa v Umkhonto Wesizwe Political Party (EC v MK). She highlights that while this case reveals the importance of judicial decisiveness in electoral matters, it also sheds light on the strain that persistent legal battles from serial litigants such as Jacob Zuma can place on the judicial system.

In this week’s post, Lindo Hadebe discusses the impeachment cases of two prominent South African judges. He observes that the impeachment signifies a pivotal moment in South Africa’s democracy. Thus, by addressing misconduct within the judiciary, South Africa took a significant step toward reinforcing the principles of democracy, transparency, and the rule of law. Despite the challenges inherent in the impeachment process, marked by prolonged legal battles, the impeachment reaffirmed the state’s commitment to upholding democratic values and preserving public trust in the judiciary’s integrity