In this article, Nico Steytler discusses the implications of South Africa's 2024 elections, which saw the ANC lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years and the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU). Steytler examines whether this shift will strengthen democracy and federalism or deepen existing divisions, as the nation grapples with entrenched inequality and the challenges of collaborative governance.

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.

Ozioma V. Nwadike discusses the dilemma of parallel party primaries in Nigeria and argues that conflicting winners undermine the electoral process’ legitimacy, leading to a lack of trust in the system and elected representatives.

With the upcoming 2024 South African elections on the horizon, this week's post delves into the critical role of elections in holding the executive accountable. Shadi Maganoe examines the stance of South African courts regarding the challenges that emerged within the electoral system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the the first of a two-part series, Ugochukwu Ezeh discusses judicial transparency, corruption and the integrity of democratic institutions against the backdrop of the contested presidential election in Nigeria.