By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan
IN order to seek redress from law courts for perceived irregularities that arose from the just-concluded elections, aggrieved politicians across the country have been warned against filing frivolous petitions which are capable of distracting stakeholders in the democratic process.

The warning was given by the Anglican Archbishop of Ibadan Province, Most Revd. Joseph Akinfenwa, at the first session of the diocese’s 12th synod held in Ibadan.

According to him, such petitions could also drain the nations’ resources and stagnate our socio- economic development.

At the meeting which was held at the 150 years old St. James Cathedral, Oke Bola, the cleric noted that while it was understood that there could but be misgivings amongst losers in any election, “we appeal to our political class to be magnanimous in victory, or gallant in defeat, as the case may be”.

Contrary to popular views that the elections were free and fair, the bishop noted with dismay that despite the efforts of the authorities to prevent it, the elections were tainted with irregularities and malpractices in some places.

He said, though, going to court for redress was a fundamental right of all aggrieved citizens, he  appealed to our politicians to do so only on cogent grounds.

“We hereby identify with those who were at the receiving end of these injustices and call for prompt redress in all genuine cases. Nevertheless, we like to appeal for restraint in our politicians’ quest to head for the courts to challenge results of the electoral process”, he said.

Democracy, he said was about finding out the wishes of the people and tilting the swing of governance in accordance with the wishes of the people.

He advised that now that the people had spoken, all stakeholders must show decorum, respect for law and order, and respect for the wishes of the electorates.