By Nelson Utip
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has identified electoral malpractices as a major threat to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, increasing political tension and electoral violence.
The Head, Legal Department, Legal Services, INEC office, Edo State, Mrs. Rita Amadi stated this in a paper presented at an interactive session with youth groups in Edo State on the role of youths as the September 21, 2024 governorship election draws near
Represented by Mrs Oba Agbonifo, a legal officer in the Benin office, she in her paper titled, ‘Electoral Offences and Penalties’, said the interaction with the youth was necessary to intimate the electorate especially the youths on the existence and applicability of the electoral laws as well as punishment and penalties for offenders while noting that the prosecution of electoral offenders in Nigeria has become a herculean task due to the inefficiency of criminal investigation in the country.
Amadi pointed efforts at mitigating electoral offences could be effective when the offenders are the arrested, prosecuted and sanctioned. to end the reign of impunity.
“Electoral offences may be committed by an individual or group of persons and such individuals shall be held liable and punished in accordance with the extant laws.
“Our laws are replete with a reasonable amount of these offences and penalties. Generally speaking, the youths make up a greater percentage of our population, as well as the age bracket that participate in our electoral process at different levels.
“Against this backdrop it’s critical that the youths get to intimately understand the electoral offences.” She said.
Amadi said that the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had at a recent press briefing, said “although the commission is empowered by the Electoral Act to prosecute electoral offences, it lacks the power and resources to make arrests and thoroughly investigate the offences”.
The Legal Officer called on all political stakeholders to assist the Commission in fulfilling its mandate as an election umpire by enlightening all and sundry to abandon the do or die syndrome in the electioneering process.
