INEC prosecutes 774 electoral offenders, calls for special tribunal

By Kunle Sanni

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 774 electoral offenders from the 2023 general election are currently facing prosecution in courts across the country.

The commission stated that the prosecutions are being carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), while efforts to tackle vote-buying have also led to convictions through cooperation with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Friday during the commission’s first regular consultative meeting with media organizations in Abuja.

He highlighted successful prosecutions in Kebbi and Kogi States, as well as convictions for vote-buying in Lagos, Kwara, and Gombe States. However, he noted that many cases remain pending.

Yakubu also cited the recent conviction of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State as evidence of INEC’s commitment to strengthening electoral integrity. He lamented the slow pace of electoral justice, attributing delays to the fact that electoral offences are not time-bound, unlike post-election tribunal cases.

“A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice is that electoral offences are not time-bound. They are prosecuted solely by Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdictions where the alleged offences occurred. Unfortunately, these cases often take years to conclude,” Yakubu said.

The INEC chairman reiterated his call for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal, which would have exclusive jurisdiction over election-related crimes and operate within a set timeframe. He urged the media to advocate for such reforms, emphasizing the need for judicial and legislative support to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.

“The recent successful prosecution of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State is a case in point. It took nearly six years to secure a conviction for an offence committed during the 2019 General Election. This underscores the need for an Electoral Offences Tribunal to ensure swift justice,” Yakubu stated.