Politics
…seeks media support
By Anthony Isibor
PROF. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has urged the media to join in the advocacy for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal that has a specific jurisdiction and limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases.
The INEC chairman, who made the call at its first quarterly meeting with the media on Friday in Abuja, stated that it will ensure the speedy adjudication of electoral offences.
According to him, while the Commission will continue to strive to ensure continuous improvement of elections, as the multi-stakeholder responsibility, there is need for continuous support of all and sundry, especially in critical areas of reforms for the good of our electoral democracy.
He said that one of these areas of reforms is the prosecution of electoral offenders.
He recalled the recent successful prosecution of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State for a case which began in 2019.
“In this particular case, it took nearly six years to achieve the successful prosecution at the trial court.”
He explained that although the collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, is helping in prosecuting cases involving 774 alleged offenders from the 2023 general elections, yet many cases are still pending.
He noted that although Judicial and legislative actions underscore the commission’s effort to deal with offences involving officials of the Commission assigned to carry out designated responsibilities, however, it also highlights the challenges it faces in dealing with electoral offences.
Prof. Yakubu also explained that another major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals.
“Furthermore, they are solely prosecuted by the Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed. No priority attention is given to such cases as the courts deal with a variety of other cases.
“Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one general election to another which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.”
He also assured that the commission’s partnership with the Nigerian Union Of Journalist, NUJ, in particular and the media as a critical stakeholder in the electoral process in general, will be sustained in the best interest of electoral democracy as has been demonstrated time and again.
A.I
Feb. 8, 2025
Tags: INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
