Nigeria, April 6 -- As he settled in to deliver the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on 2 April, presiding judge, Wilfred Kpochi, felt obliged to get one ritual out of the way. Glancing left and right, he asked each of his two colleagues on the three-person tribunal to confirm that the judgment he was about to deliver was unanimous. Justice Kpochi only proceeded after each, one to his left and the other to his right, nodded their affirmation.

The judge had good reason for this preliminary ritual. About 48 hours before it was due, a leaked document purporting to be the judgment of the tribunal went into circulation. Ahead of the judgment day, both leading parties in the electoral contest, which had inexora...