Exploring Customary Law Conflict Resolution Strategies For Democratic Consolidation In Nigeria

Abstract

Social divisions, judicial officers' insufficiency, poor governance and religion, ethnicity, etc. impede Nigeria's efforts to consolidate democracy. The goal of democratic consolidation is to ensure the continuous representation of citizens' interests, despite challenges, thereby creating a robust and enduring democratic system. Customary law conflict resolution techniques (CLCRT) have proven successful in settling conflicts and fostering social cohesion at the local level. This study investigates how democratic governance and social cohesiveness could be strengthened by the political will of those in governance by applying customary law dispute settlement techniques. Using the doctrinal methodology and comparative approach, combining case studies, we examine the effectiveness of customary law mechanisms in resolving disputes, strengthening and stabilising the newly established democratic system. Our results demonstrate how customary law can be used with official justice systems to remedy their shortcomings and promote inclusive government. We contend inter alia that incorporating tactics for resolving conflicts based on customary law into Nigeria's democratic framework can strengthen its legitimacy, encourage social cohesion, and aid in peace building; customary law courts should also be established and recognised as part of the formal justice system. This study adds to the expanding corpus of research on legal pluralism and democratic consolidation by providing valuable suggestions for practitioners and policymakers who aim to fortify democracy in varied and polarised countries.