Is it true that petitioning the Supreme Court in an election dispute in Africa is therapeutic?

Democracy as described by Oxford dictionary, is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.It is also defined as government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people.

Africans have embraced democracy but are struggling to accept the consequences that comes with it.

Some of the elections in Africa is marred with irregularities and malpractices.Others are free and fair with few errors which does not affect the outcome of the elections.

However,the leader or party that loses elections tend to cause unnecessary tension and social unrest.

One nation that has gone through the mill to be a beacon of Africa as far as elections or democracy is concerned is Ghana.

In some countries, after elections and declaration of the results by the Electoral commissioner,the political party that lost tend to cry fowl and sometimes indulge in violence and lawless activities.The reasons why leaders in these African countries rally their supporters to go on rampage are due to several factors.

Many leaders suffer from stress after spending millions of dollars to campaign.Some of these leaders borrow from the bank and other financial institutions to fund their campaign.Others sell their properties or family assets to seek for power.Thinking about losing all these assets or how to pay borrowed money and/or replace sold properties, could lead to depression.In extreme cases it could lead to heart attack or heart related diseases.Some leaders are simply power drunk and therefore want to be president or in position of authority at all cost.Losing elections come as a shock to such leaders.

The aforementioned problems emanating from losing elections

is what I refer to as 'Post Election Defeat Syndrome' (PEDS).

Political leaders who lose elections should be taken through counselling to prevent or deal with PEDS.

In Kenya incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election held on December 27, 2007. Supporters of Kibaki's opponent, Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement, alleged electoral manipulation. This was widely confirmed by international observers,Some innocent citizens were lynched and properties destroyed.It took the intervention of Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of UN to bring the problem under control.

In Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), won the 27 June 2008 elections with 48% of the first round vote) and Mugabe (43%). Tsvangirai withdrew from the second round a week before it was scheduled to take place, citing violence against his party's supporters. The second round went ahead, despite widespread condemnation, and led to victory for Mugabe.In this case power sharing was the solution.

Recently African countries have resorted to resolving their electoral disputes at the Supreme Court just like Al Gore did in US.This method of resolving electoral dispute in my opinion is therapeutic, because, it brings some sort of satisfaction to the defeated leader and his supporters.

Petitioning the Supreme Court has been embraced by African leaders which is a good thing.

In Nigeria,President Jonathan Goodluck's presidency was challenged by the opposition in court amidst fears that the election was rigged.The Supreme Court ruled in president Jonathan's favour .In Kenya,bloodshed was spared in 2012 by taking the electoral dispute to the Supreme Court for an amicable solution.Again the supreme court ruled in favour of president Uhuru Kenyatta who was duly declared winner by the electoral commissioner.In Ghana NPP party led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo after losing the 2012 election to the NDC party led by president Mahama are also challenging the outcome of the election at the Supreme Court.This has also averted a possible bloodbath in Ghana.In Zimbabwe, the decision of Tsvangirai and MDC party to challenge president Mugabe's re-election at the Supreme Court has also prevented violence and bloodshed.

One may ask,' Is it true that petitioning the Supreme Court is therapeutic ?Could it be the solution to 'Post Election Defeat Syndrome' (PEDS)?